Fansided

3 keys to Yankees-Astros Game 3

By Rucker Haringey

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 10: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros reacts after striking out Willy Adames (not pictured) #1 of the Tampa Bay Rays during the fifth inning in game five of the American League Division Series at Minute Maid Park on October 10, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 10: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros reacts after striking out Willy Adames (not pictured) #1 of the Tampa Bay Rays during the fifth inning in game five of the American League Division Series at Minute Maid Park on October 10, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Cooper Neill/MLB Photos via Getty Images
Photo by Cooper Neill/MLB Photos via Getty Images /

2. Will Giancarlo Stanton play?

Stanton’s absence from the Yankees lineup in Game 2 caught a lot of people by surprise. After all, he hit a big home run late in Game 1 that seemed to portend good things to come for the outfield slugger. No one inside the New York organization knows whether or not injury will keep Stanton out of the lineup again on Tuesday.

The Yankees have played a fair amount of games this season without the former Marlins star. He missed a huge chunk of the regular season and barely made it back in time for the postseason. However, it still hurts New York to miss him against Houston’s excellent pitching staff. Stanton gives Aaron Boone’s lineup one more guy who can turn the game around with a single swing of the bat.

If Stanton can’t go, it will give Boone a tough choice to make in his place. Cameron Maybin got the start in Game 2 before Aaron Hicks pinch hit for him. It’s unclear if Hicks can be trusted to play a full nine innings in the outfield. If he can, his left-handed bat might really help balance the Yankees lineup against Cole.

It’s also possible that Stanton will make the lineup as a DH only. That would likely push Edwin Encarnacion to the bench. He hasn’t hit at all during this series, but the team would miss his presence in the batting order too. No matter how you slice it, Stanton’s injury issues are a real pain for Boone and the team’s brain trust.

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