MLB Playoffs 2015: Adrian Beltre not in Rangers' Game 2 lineup

Marc Lancaster

MLB Playoffs 2015: Adrian Beltre not in Rangers' Game 2 lineup image

Hanser Alberto, not Adrian Beltre, will be holding down third base for the Rangers on Friday afternoon as they attempt to take a 2-0 series lead over the Blue Jays.

Beltre left Thursday's AL Division Series opener in Toronto with a stiff back, and based on the pain he appeared to be in before departing the game, it's no surprise he won't be ready for the 12:37 p.m. ET start.

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Texas obviously will lose quite a bit with the seasoned Beltre out of the lineup, but the Rangers can at least take solace in having a game in hand on the road. With a day off Saturday, Beltre might be able to get back in the lineup when the series shifts to Arlington on Sunday.

On the Blue Jays side, Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista are in Friday's lineup after both had to leave Game 1 early with injuries.

Marc Lancaster

Marc Lancaster Photo

Marc Lancaster joined The Sporting News in 2022 after working closely with TSN for five years as an editor for the company now known as Stats Perform. He previously worked as an editor at The Washington Times, AOL’s FanHouse.com and the old CNNSportsIllustrated.com, and as a beat writer covering the Tampa Bay Rays, Cincinnati Reds, and University of Georgia football and women’s basketball. A Georgia graduate, he has been a Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 2013.