HOUSTON — The trolling executing by Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman barely registered with Red Sox right-hander Nathan Eovaldi and ttp://www.diamondbacksfanproshop.com/authentic-brad-boxberger-jersey , subsequently, didn’t merit much of a response.Bregman was one of three Houston batters to homer in succession off Eovaldi on June 20 at Minute Maid Park when Eovaldi pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays, and Bregman referred to that decisive string of blasts on social media as the scene of the American League Championship Series changed venues from Fenway Park to Minute Maid Park on Monday. With Eovaldi set to take the ball for Boston in Game 3 on Tuesday, his primary focus was elsewhere.“I feel I’m a completely different pitcher,” Eovaldi said. “I’m attacking it a lot differently. I’m going to try to keep the same approach as I’ve been attacking hitters now and moving forward. They have (a) lot of aggressive guys in the lineup. They swing early in the counts. Not too many of them like to walk. So, try and keep them in the ballpark and go from there.”Article continues below ...George Springer and Jose Altuve sandwiched solo home runs around the Bregman dinger in the sixth inning of that Astros 5-1 victory, with Altuve recording a 112.3 exit velocity with the second of his two homers off Eovaldi that game. That was one of three home runs Eovaldi surrendered during the season with an exit velocity of 110-plus miles per hour and, of the 14 homers he allowed during the season, four were recorded by the Astros in that contest.Although he noted a usage increase in his cutter with the Red Sox, whom he joined on July 29, the numbers reveal that Eovaldi relied on his four-seam fastball more during the final month and against the Yankees in the AL Division Series when he allowed one run on five hits with five strikeouts over seven innings in a 16-1 victory in Game 3 at Yankee Stadium. He will make his second career postseason start in similar circumstances: on the road with a series even at 1-1.Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel will oppose Eovaldi with seven days of rest since his start in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Cleveland Indians. Keuchel has scuffled in his career against the Red Sox (0-1, 9.15 ERA over four appearances) Daniel Descalso Jersey , with the challenge of maintaining sharpness between outings something requiring an attention to detail.“Well, I’m the kind of (pitcher) who needs to get off the mound a lot more than other guys,” Keuchel said. “But then the other side of it, the flipside was I barely touched the mound last year when I was going through some stuff. And kind of know what it takes to get through and make sure you’re ready to go. I’ve been fortunate enough to be healthy this whole season and kind of get off the mound from my bullpen days.“So I treated a few of the in-between days from Cleveland like a bullpen day — threw a light BP the day before we went to Boston. And it just feels good to get out there and face some live hitting whether it’s our team or whoever. So, I have just been trying to get off the mound as much as possible, try to carry that over.” It was a steep fall from grace for a man who'd have garnered blue-chip prospects a year or two earlier. And it was a painful concession for Toronto, which waited too long to trade its franchise player.Then again, it was also a second chance. The Jays were going nowhere in an American League East dominated by the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.The Indians, on the other hand, were waltzing to a third straight AL Central title.The Tribe wanted offensive help. Donaldson, presumably, wanted another crack at an October run and a chance to put his injury woes and underperformance in the rearview mirror.Roller skate http://www.diamondbacksfanproshop.com/authentic-ketel-marte-jerse , meet key.In 16 regular-season games with Cleveland, Donaldson hit .280 with a .920 OPS."I'm glad he's on our side now," Indians right-hander Josh Tomlinsaid, per Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. "Watching that swing as opposed to actually having to face that swing."The swap was subject to scrutiny by the Red Sox and Yankees, according to a report by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.At the time of the deal, Donaldson hadn't played in the majors since May 28. Per MLB rules, a player has to be healthy to be put on revocable trade waivers.Small-sample caveats aside, Donaldson's performance with the Indians proved he was healthy and laid those objections to rest. Also, it primed him for an October outburst that could swell his bank account.Bryce Harper and Manny Machado will headline the2018-19 free-agent class. Neither player was stellar in his contract year, but the 25-year-old Harper and 26-year-old Machado ought to command contracts north of $300 million and possibly in the vicinity of $400 million.For the clubs that strike out on that dynamic duo, Donaldson is an intriguing, roll-of-the-dice consolation prize.Is there risk? Sure. A player who's entering his age-33 season with nagging injury issues doesn't scream "wise investment."Donaldson isn't merely some player David Peralta Jersey , however. He's a rare talent who isn't far removed from elite production. On a shorter-term pact worth hundreds of millions less than what Harper and Machado will reel in, he could be an unmitigated bargain.Ed Zurga/Getty ImagesIt'll depend on how Donaldson performs in the playoffs. After cruising to victory in the weak AL Central with a 91-71 record, the Indians will kick off their October slate against the defending MLB champion Houston Astros on Friday.For what it's worth, Donaldson owns a .333 average against Astros righty Justin Verlander in 18 at-bats, a .292 average against southpaw Dallas Keuchel in 24 at-bats and is hitless against righty Gerrit Cole in three at-bats.In 133 postseason plate appearances, he's slashed .292/.361/.475.If he rakes and the Indians advance, his stock will soar. If he stumbles and Cleveland makes an early exit, he could be in line for a one-year show-me contract.It's Donaldson's move, in other words. Recent results indicate he's prepared to take advantage.Harper and Machado will gobble up the headlines. But a former MVP is poised to reclaim his seat at the superstar table.General managers, prepare your checkbooks.All statistics courtesy of FanGraphs.