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By Andrew Gould
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The Tampa Bay Rays won't roll out the same lineup for Game 3 of the World Series on Monday night.
Tampa Bay made some key lineup changes to oppose Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Robert Gasser. For the first time this postseason, Jonathan Aranda won't start.
Ryan Vilade will start at first base instead, batting second behind designated hitter Yandy Diaz and speedy left fielder Chandler Simpson. Left-handed catcher Liam Hicks and second baseman Richie Palacios will also sit for right-handers Nick Fortes and Ben Williamson.
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Freddy Peralta takes the mound against his former team after earning ALCS MVP honors with two wins and a hold.
Aranda lost playing time to lefties during the regular season, but he started against star southpaw Max Fried in Tampa Bay's ALDS-clinching Game 3 win over the New York Yankees. The 2025 All-Star is batting .310 this postseason, including four hits and a walk in two World Series losses at Milwaukee.
Rays manager Kevin Cash will nevertheless play the platoon splits against Gasser, who limited left-handed hitters to a .552 OPS during the regular season. Righties, on the other hand, posted a .765 OPS.
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Aranda held his own against lefties, batting .250 with a .337 on-base percentage, but he slugged .341 against them and .471 against righties. Meanwhile, Vilade batted .272/.341/.477 in 170 plate appearances against lefties this season, and the 27-year-old took Fried deep when starting the ALDS matchup in right field.
Hicks is a career .194/.294/.232 hitter against lefties, and Fortes at least offers superior defense behind the plate. Palacios hit .158 off lefties this year, so Williamson will start despite tallying one hit this postseason.
Game 3 starts Monday at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.
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