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Astros' Greinke starting Game 4 of ALCS, will be his 1st start in a month

Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Zack Greinke hasn't been a factor in the Houston Astros' postseason run. Now, he's being asked to try to save their season.

The veteran right-hander will start Game 4 of the ALCS on Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, Astros manager Dusty Baker announced after his team's Game 3 loss, according to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle.

Baker won't restrict Greinke in Game 4, even though it'll be the pitcher's first start in exactly one month.

"(He'll pitch) as long as he can go. As long as his endurance is fine," Baker said, per Rome.

However, Greinke isn't sure how deep he'll be able to pitch in what's suddenly a critical game for his club.

"We'll see," he said, according to the Chronicle's Danielle Lerner. "Haven't gone real deep recently, but we'll just see what happens, and we'll be ready, and we'll go from there."

Greinke, a former Cy Young winner and six-time All-Star, has thrown just 12 1/3 innings since Sept. 1. Injuries limited him to three regular-season appearances - only two of which were starts - over the final month, and he allowed 15 earned runs over that span. The 37-year-old pitched a scoreless inning of relief in Game 3 of the ALDS in his lone postseason appearance this year.

The Astros are starting Greinke in large part because their pitching staff is suddenly in shambles. Houston's starters have faltered in the ALCS, posting a collective 20.25 ERA through three games against Boston, and ace Lance McCullers Jr. isn't available due to a forearm injury. The team's bullpen is also taxed as Baker used seven relievers in Game 1 and five on Monday.

Greinke, who owns a 4.18 ERA across 20 career playoff appearances, will oppose Red Sox right-hander Nick Pivetta in Game 4. Boston took a 2-1 series lead in the ALCS with a 12-3 win in Monday's Game 3.

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