ALCS Game Thread: Rangers vs. Astros, 8:15 P.M.
Houston Astros. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Playoff baseball is back after a two-day hiatus with only four teams remaining. In the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies look poised to return to the World Series for the second-straight season with only the Arizona Diamondbacks standing in their way. In the American League, the Houston Astros look to continue their campaign for a second-straight World Series title, but first must make it past the Texas Rangers.
Sunday marks Game 1 of the ALCS, while Game 1 between the Diamondbacks and Phillies, along with Game 2 of Rangers versus Astros, will occur on Monday.
Texas Rangers vs. Houston Astros, Game 1
To get to this point, the division-winning Astros, who edged the Rangers based off tiebreaker in the AL West, defeated the Minnesota Twins in four games. Meanwhile, the Rangers swept both the Toronto Blue Jays in the Wild Card round and the Baltimore Orioles in the NLDS. The Rangers are 5-0 in the playoffs, averaging a staggering 6.4 runs per game.
The Game 1 pitching matchup in Houston at Minute Maid Park is expected to feature left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery versus former Mets’ ace Justin Verlander.
Montgomery posted a 3.20 ERA between the St. Louis Cardinals and Rangers this season. In the postseason, he started two games, tossing seven scoreless against the Tampa Bay Rays before allowing nine hits and four runs against the Baltimore Orioles.
Meanwhile, Verlander posted a 7-3 record and 3.31 ERA across 68 innings in the regular season with Houston after coming over from the Mets at the trade deadline. In the postseason, he made one start against Minnesota tossing six scoreless innings with six strikeouts.
The Astros are hoping to win the AL pennant for the third-straight year and for the fifth time in the last seven years. The Rangers are hoping for a return to the World Series for the first time since their back-to-back appearances and subsequent losses in 2010 and 2011, respectively.
Rangers Lineup
Lone Star Series meets ALCS. #GoAndTakeIt pic.twitter.com/iyuwKBZgnU
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) October 15, 2023
Astros Lineup
Our ALCS Game 1 lineup.
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????: @SportsTalk790 | Spanish: 93.3 FM pic.twitter.com/vqkwqakNef— Houston Astros (@astros) October 15, 2023
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