Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Yandy Diaz was not in the starting lineup for Tuesday night’s American League Division Series Game 4 against the Houston Astros due to foot soreness.
Rays manager Kevin Cash said Diaz, who exited Monday’s ALDS Game 3 in the second inning, would be available off the bench. Joey Wendle was listed at third base and batting seventh against Astros ace Justin Verlander.
Diaz struck out in the bottom of the first inning of Tampa Bay’s 10-3 win on Monday and played two innings in the field. When his spot came up in the bottom of the second, Matt Duffy pinch-hit for him and remained in the game at third base.
Diaz missed more than two months with a fractured left foot, returning for the final game of the regular season on Sept. 29.
Tampa Bay faced elimination heading into Tuesday’s game, trailing 2-1 in the series. Diaz is hitless in nine ALDS at-bats. He slugged two homers in last Wednesday’s wild-card victory over the Oakland Athletics.
