Facing down a brutal 2-0 deficit in the World Series, the Tampa Bay Rays just pulled the trigger on a massive lineup shake-up for Game 3 at Tropicana Field. They benched All-Star first baseman Jonathan Aranda and catcher Liam Hicks, sending a clear message: something had to give against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Aranda Shockwave
This move with Jonathan Aranda is a bombshell. He’s an All-Star first baseman, for crying out loud, and has started every single one of the Rays’ 11 postseason games this year. He even tallied four hits across Games 1 and 2 of the World Series. You’d think that kind of production would make him untouchable, especially since he’s considered one of the Rays’ “big three” bats, usually hitting near the top of the lineup alongside sluggers Yandy Díaz and Junior Caminero.
But the field has been a different story. Game 2 was particularly rough, with a pair of misplays that cost the team dearly. There was that grounder that zipped right between his legs, allowing a crucial run to score. Then he couldn’t reel in a pop fly near the screen in foul territory. And let’s not forget Game 1, where he got doubled off second base on Caminero’s line drive to third, killing the first inning. It’s tough, but those kinds of mistakes are amplified in the World Series. Now Ryan Vilade is starting at first base in Game 3 over Aranda. It also doesn’t help that Aranda is a left-handed hitter facing Brewers lefty Robert Gasser, even though he’s started all four previous playoff games against other lefties like the Yankees’ Max Fried and Guardians’ Parker Messick and Foster Griffin.
Hicks Out, Fortes In: A Catcher’s Dilemma
Liam Hicks getting pulled is another head-scratcher, especially after his performance in Game 2. The guy smashed a two-run homer that helped cap off the Rays’ four-run first inning! He’s been a fixture too, starting all but one playoff game this year, only sitting out Game 1 of the ALCS against Cleveland when ace Drew Rasmussen was on the mound.
However, Hicks got hit on the right elbow by a DL Hall pitch in the sixth inning of Game 2. Manager Kevin Cash pinch-hit Ryan Vilade for him in the eighth when dominant lefty reliever Aaron Ashby came in, and Vilade struck out. But here’s the kicker: the Brewers stole four of their five bases in Game 2 with Nick Fortes behind the plate after Hicks was removed. Sure, all those steals came with reliever Kevin Kelly on the mound, but that’s still a tough look. Fortes is now starting Game 3 at catcher instead of Hicks. Like Aranda, Hicks is a left-handed hitter facing a lefty in Gasser, though he started three of the four previous playoff games against left-handers.
This is Game 3 of the World Series, and the Rays are already down 2-0. They simply cannot afford to fall into a 3-0 hole. Every single play, every single at-bat, matters. Let’s see if these desperate moves pay off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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