Braves reward World Series heroes with Game 5 lineup

The Braves are 27 outs away from a World Series, but the Houston Astros won’t go down easily. So, how will Brian Snitker’s group line up?

Snitker has essentially gone with one of two groups so far this World Series, either sticking Joc Pederson in the outfield or going with some combination of Eddie Rosario and Jorge Soler.

Soler and Rosario get the call in Game 5, just one contest removed from coming up huge and giving the Braves a commanding 3-1 lead.

Braves’ Game 5 lineup rewards Eddie Rosario and Jorge Soler

The former Royals and Cubs outfielder Soler hit a solo home run to extend the Braves lead, going back-to-back with Dansby Swanson in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Jusssttttt out of the reach of Yordan Alvarez.

The very next half inning, Jose Altuve sent a rocket to the warning track, only for it to find Rosario’s glove at the last minute. It showed the difference between having a high-caliber outfielder in the field, like Rosario, and a player primarily known as a designated hitter in the American League, like Alvarez.

The Braves will call on Tucker Davidson to start Game 5, rather than rushing back Max Fried a few days early. That’s the benefit of having a two-game lead. The Astros will turn to Framber Valdez, who got rocked in Game 1.

“We’ve had our backs to the wall before,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “Our guys know what to do. There’s not a whole lot to be said. We know what we have to do.”