Anthony Rizzo to lead off as Yankees shuffle lineup for Game 3

play

9:30 PM AST

The Yankees are in danger of being swept in the ALCS and are rearranging their lineup.

In order to face a Houston Astros right-handed pitcher, the New York Mets will move Harrison Bader down from the leadoff spot to No. 6 and shift Matt Carpenter to the designated hitter position.

Astros 1. Jose Altuve, 2B 2. Jeremy Pena, SS 3. Yordan Alvarez, LF 4. Alex Bregman, 3B 5. Kyle Tucker, RF 6. Yuli Gurriel, 1B 7. Trey Mancini, DH 8. Christian Vazquez, C

9. Chas McCormick, CF

Yankees 1. Anthony Rizzo, 1B 2. Aaron Judge, RF 3. Giancarlo Stanton, LF 4. Gleyber Torres, 2B 5. Matt Carpenter, DH 6. Harrison Bader, CF 7. Josh Donaldson, 3B 8. Oswaldo Cabrera, SS

9. Jose Trevino, C

There are three different lineups from New York. The manager wanted a left-handed batter at the top of the order. The lineup's three left-handed hitters were left out of the plan.

"Just having three lefties in there today, just wanting some spacing with them, because we haven't had that typical leadoff hitter rotating that spot," he said. It's just spreading them out and trying to have a lineup balance.

The Astros are sticking with the lineup they used in the first game of the series, but Yordan will not be the designated hitter. The series will have a new player at catcher on Saturday and a new player as the designated hitter on Sunday.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa has allowed left-handed hitters to hit.189/.279/.318 while allowing right-handed hitters to hit.147/.225/ in his career.

avier is tough on righties. I wanted to have the lefties in there.

In Yankee Stadium, the left field is larger than Minute Maid Park, which made it easier for him to play in. During the second half of the season, the outfielder has not played in the field due to a left ankle injury.

He lived in Houston. "Obviously made a great play out there." He came out of that game feeling good and the next day felt the same. I checked in with him to make sure he was okay with it. I told him I was thinking about it, and he was in favor of it.