After going 2 for 22 with runners in scoring position through three playoff games, the Minnesota Twins are mixing things up as they face Houston Astros left-hander Framber Valdez in Game 2 of the best-of-five American League Divisional Series on Sunday night.
Eddy Julien and Matt Wallner, both lefties, are not starting and Max Kepler, also a lefty, has been moved from batting fourth all the way down to the eighth spot in the order.
- 1B, Donovan Solano, R
- 2B, Jorge Polanco, S
- DH, Royce Lewis, R
- SS, Carlos Correa, R
- C, Ryan Jeffers, R
- LF, Willi Castro, S
- 3B, Kyle Farmer, R
- RF, Max Kepler, L
- CF, Michael A. Taylor, R
Polanco has seen Valdez more than any other player in the lineup and he’s 6 for 15 with a homer against him. Taylor is 2 for 5 in his career against Valdez while Jeffers has faced Valdez three times and homered against him once.
Game 2 starts at 7:03 p.m. The Twins need to win to avoid falling in an 0-2 hole and facing a must-win Game 3 Tuesday in Minneapolis.
