Ailing Beltre returns to Rangers' lineup for Game 4
Though Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre wasn't expected to start Game 4 of the American League Division Series at Globe Life Park, the 36-year-old was penciled into the lineup roughly an hour before first pitch Monday against the Toronto Blue Jays.
| No. | Player | Pos |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delino DeShields | CF |
| 2 | Shin-Soo Choo (L) | RF |
| 3 | Adrian Beltre | 3B |
| 4 | Prince Fielder (L) | DH |
| 5 | Mitch Moreland (L) | 1B |
| 6 | Elvis Andrus | SS |
| 7 | Josh Hamilton (L) | LF |
| 8 | Rougned Odor (L) | 2B |
| 9 | Robinson Chirinos | C |
Beltre, a four-time All-Star, hasn't played since departing his club's Game 1 victory at Rogers Centre on Thursday with lower back stiffness. Hanser Alberto was expected to make his third straight start at third base Monday afternoon in lieu of Beltre, who had a cortisone injection Thursday, but the 18-year veteran will return to the lineup after watching his team muster just five hits in Sunday's 5-1 loss.
According to general manager Jon Daniels, in fact, Beltre talked his way back into the lineup.
"What are you going to do, say no to Willis Reed?" Daniels said, referencing the New York Knicks center who famously played through a torn calf muscle in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals to lift his team to 113-99 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Throughout his career, though, Beltre has enjoyed only modest success against Blue Jays knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, managing a .231/.286/.462 line with one home run, one walk, and two strikeouts in 14 plate appearances against the 40-year-old.
Despite hitting just .186 over the past three games, the Rangers can clinch a spot in the American League Championship Series with a victory Monday. A loss, however, would force a fifth and final game Wednesday in Toronto.