Third baseman Adrian Beltre is back in the Rangers lineup for Monday's Game 4 of the AL Division Series against the Blue Jays.
Beltre, who left Game 1 after injuring his lower back Thursday on a slide into second base, didn't play in Game 2, but clearly the Rangers know the importance of Monday's game, holding a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.
MORE: Best photos from the ALDS | Blue Jays vs Rangers Game 4: Time, TV channel, analysis
In fact, general manager Jon Daniels put having Beltre in the lineup in a context from sports history for FoxSports.com.
On Beltre’s return to lineup, #Rangers GM Jon Daniels just told me, “What are you going to do, say no to Willis Reed?”
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) October 12, 2015The nod to NBA history — Willis Reed, playing at less than 100 percent on a bad leg, led the Knicks to the 1970 NBA title — is also a nod to Beltre's status as the emotional leader of his team. Putting him in the No. 3 spot in Monday's batting order against former Ranger R.A. Dickey, even though Beltre isn't at his best, indicates how badly the Rangers don't want to go back to Toronto for a deciding Game 5.
