Bob Levey/Getty ImagesThe Houston Astros have the 2017 American League MVP back at their disposal after they announced he was activated from the 10-day disabled list Tuesday.Altuve was out with right knee soreness Cameron Maybin Jersey , and his return wasn't the only roster move the team announced. It also selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Framber Valdez and optioned outfielder Kyle Tucker and left-handed pitcher Cionel Perez to Triple-A.Tucker struggled in his first action in the major leagues, slashing .154/.254/.212 with zero home runs and three RBI in 20 games. It is reasonable, however, to expect better production from him eventually considering MLB.com has himrankedas the eighth-best prospect in the game.While Tucker may be a future star, the return of Altuve came just in time for the 2018 Astros.He last played July 25, and the defending World Series champions were an ugly 8-13 without him. The six-time All-Star and three-time AL batting champion is slashing .329/.392/.464 with nine home runs and 46 RBI and figures to provide a much-needed boost.The Astros are tied with the Oakland Athletics atop the American League West and 3.5 games ahead of the Seattle Mariners for the second wild-card spot. Houston is looking to defend its title, but it will have its hands full just trying to make the playoffs if it doesn't play better moving forward.Altuve should help the Astros do just that in the final stretch of the regular season. Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesThe Houston Astros are one step closer to defending their World Series title after completing a three-game sweep over the Cleveland Indians in the American League Division Series.George Springer hit two home runs in a 3-for-6 day to help Houston earn an 11-3 road win on Monday in Game 3. Cleveland led 2-1 until 10 straight runs led to an easy victory for the visitors.The three wins in the best-of-five series also gives the Astros their first playoff sweep in franchise history.Terry Francona Costs Indians With Pitching Staff GambleTrevor Bauer was a Cy Young candidate as a starter over the course of the season, but manager Terry Francona has decided to use him exclusively in relief this series, appearing in all three games.After allowing a run in 2.2 innings to start the series Lewis Brinson Jersey , he gave up three runs (two earned) in a miserable Game 3. He also had a pair of throwing errors that helped extend the decisive seventh inning.paul hoynes hoynsieTrevor Bauer has made 5 errors in his career. In the seventh inning in Game 3 of the ALDS, hes made 2.The Astros built their momentum and piled on the scoring against Cody Allen and others, totaling 10 runs in the last three innings. Five relievers were used to cover four innings, and all but one allowed at least one run.MikeClevinger had been all the Indians could have hoped for in his first career postseason start, especially afterproven starters Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco were unspectacular in Games 1 and 2.A solo home run was the only run heallowed in five innings that also included nine strikeouts.This wasn't enough to factor into the decision, though, as the bullpen couldn't hold onto the lead.The Indians succeeded in the past because Francona wasn't afraid to be unconventional with his pitching staff. Andrew Miller and Cody Allen virtually carried the club to the World Series in 2016.Unfortunately, the bullpen wasn't nearly as effective in 2018 and the manager's gambles didn't pay off in the playoffs. Bruce Hooley of105.7 The Zone gave his thoughts on the situation:Bruce Hooley BHOOLZNo other manager in baseball -- NONE -- could survive achieving less in 3 consecutive seasons with this starting staff and this talent. NONE! And before you say, quot;We won the Central 3 times. Thats hard.quot; Given the competition it is no harder than winning at solitaireThe players do have to perform http://www.marlinsfanproshop.com/authentic-jt-riddle-jersey , but Francona didn't put his best ones in a position to succeed during the series.Astros Incredible Depth Makes Them Team to Beat...AgainJust like last postseason, the Astros are getting a lot of production from a wide variety of hitters already in the playoffs.Jose Altuve is the biggest name in the lineup while Alex Bregman was the best hitter in 2018, but there are several other players who can and will hurt you if given the opportunity.George Springer hit two home runs, including one in the fifth to start Houston's scoring for the day:MLB MLBYou can鈥檛 keep these Astros down for long. jrp8xNfpX2MLB MLB#Postseason Springer is a BEAST. sZYZMC6MRBMarwin Gonzalez then came through with the big hit in the seventh inning, driving in two runs with a bases-loaded double:MLB MLB.marwinGF9 with another MASSIVE hit. #ALDS FQexZ5g8ICAfter an RBI single later in the game, Gonzalez finished 7-for-13 in the ALDS.He and Springer were also two of five Astros players with at least four hits in the series.Carlos Correa even got in on the action with an eighth-inning three-run home run, which was his first hit of the postseason.No. 4 hitter Yuli Gurriel did virtually nothing in the series but Houston kept on going with little resistance. We also haven't seen the best out of Altuve, the reigning AL MVP.If these players reach their ability andCorrea builds off his big hit, the Astros' lineup could be unstoppable.Houston had the worst scoring offense of all the AL playoff teams (despite being sixth in the majors) http://www.marlinsfanproshop.com/authentic-j.-t.-realmuto-jersey , but the team excels because it's not too reliant on one or two players coming through night after night. In a long postseason, this could be the difference.After the supporting cast showed what it could do a year ago, the Astros look ready for another championship run in 2018.Indians Must Find Impact Hitter In Offseason After Quiet ALDSGame 3 was better for the Indians offense than the first two outings, where the team was held to a combined three runs on six hits. However, the final installment wasn't too much better with just three runs, with the problem being a lack of production from the team it was hoping to rely on most.Jose Ramirez looked like an MVP for much of the regular season but was no help in the ALDS while going 0-for-11 at the plate with three strikeouts.He was 0-for-4 in the must-win Game 3, ending his season by grounding into a double play. Considering he also hit 2-for-20 in the postseason last year, there are legitimate concerns about his playoff hitting.Meanwhile, the rest of the middle of the order didn't do much better.Ramirez Brian Anderson Jersey ,Edwin Encarnacion and Josh Donaldson, the team's three through five hitters, combined to go 1-for-10 Monday and the trio only had two hits all series. This won't win too many games regardless of the opponent.Francisco Lindor did his job,getting a hit in each game of the series with home runs in each of the last two. Still, you need a lot more than just a leadoff hitter in order to make a deep run in the playoffs.Looking forward, the Indians have some tough decisions with their lineup withDonaldson, Michael Brantley and Melky Cabrera among those hitting free agency this offseason. Whether or not these players are re-signed, the team still needs other hitters it can trust to carry the offense when the other stars aren't hitting.Even if Ramirez has better days, he and Lindor can't do it all by themselves.If the Indians want to extend this contention window http://www.marlinsfanproshop.com/authentic-miguel-rojas-jersey , they need to add at least one more big-time hitter this winter. What's Next?With a ticket already punched in the ALCS, the Astros can now relax until the start of the next round on Oct. 13. The squad will take on the winner of the other ALDS between Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, although Houston will only have home-field advantage against the Yankees.
