Boston Red Sox ALDS Game 3 preview and predictions

The Boston Red Sox are down 2-0 to the Houston Astros in the ALDS, so their backs are against the wall in Game 3 with Doug Fister on the mound.

Well, it all comes down to Sunday afternoon for the Boston Red Sox in 2017. They’re facing elimination as they’ve already fallen behind two games to none to the Houston Astros.

Doug Fister will be handed the ball for the Game 3 start. That honestly does not give me much hope. In 2017, Fister started 15 games for the Red Sox, going 5-9. He had just a 4.88 ERA. Yep, that’s the guy that gets the ball with the season on the line. Not so great.

This will be Fister’s first postseason start since 2014, which was the last year in which he was really a good pitcher. That regular season for the Washington Nationals he had a 2.41 ERA while going 16-6. In the postseason, he started a game in the NLDS against the San Francisco Giants. He went 7 innings, struck out 4 batters, and allowed no runs. He got a win, but the Nationals actually lost the series. In total, Fister has a 2.60 ERA and a 4-2 record in 8 starts in the postseason. So, maybe he can turn it on for Sunday afternoon?

Red Sox players and fans sure hope so. If the Red Sox are swept, and even if they’re not but still lose this series, there could be some changes coming in Boston. John Farrell’s job could be and should be, on the line.

By the way, Brad Peacock will be the starter for the Houston Astros. He has a 13-2 record with a 3.00 ERA in 2017.

Now, here are my predictions for Game 3 of the ALDS.

Doug Fister: 3.9 IP, 7 ER, 3 Ks

Fister is not going to turn things on just because he’s in the postseason. I think he can get through the first two innings well enough, but the Astros will destroy him for 7 runs in the third and fourth. The Red Sox will be in a hole early.

Rick Porcello: 2.1 IP, 2 ER

Rick Porcello will come into the game after Fister is taken out. He may be able to calm the Astros storm for a while, but he’ll eventually crack. Give Houston another 2 runs here.

Mookie Betts: 3-5, HR, 4 RBI

Mookie Betts, who just turned 25 on Saturday, is going to do all he can to try to keep the Red Sox in the postseason. He’ll have a stellar game at the plate, with a home run and 4 total RBI. I don’t think it will be enough though.

Next: An open letter to the Boston Red Sox

Game Prediction: Astros 10, Red Sox 5

Sadly, I believe that Sunday is the end of the 2017 Boston Red Sox season. The Houston Astros offense is simply too overpowering, and they’ll crush Doug Fister. A managerial change should come in the offseason, and Boston may need to add a big bat to their lineup. Changes will definitely be needed for the Red Sox to compete in the 2018 postseason.

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