Game: Houston Astros @ Texas Rangers
Time: 5:07 p.m.
Odds: Astros -106, Rangers -110
Total: 9
In the last two games of the American League Championship Series, the Houston Astros dominated with their bats. Now, Houston looks toward ace pitcher Justin Verlander (1-1, 1.42 ERA) to slow down the Rangers once again. It’s a repeat of Game 1 at Texas as the Rangers will start Jordan Montgomery (2-0, 2.08) who shut down Houston in the opener. Verlander will have to do something as Houston has scored 18 runs in back-to-back games at Globe Life Field.
Verlander lost Game 1 after pitching 6.2 innings while giving up two runs and six hits. Texas won the game 2-0. During a playoff series, the three-time Cy Young Award winner said it is always difficult to make multiple starts against an opponent. The 40-year-old Verlander has made 35 regular-season starts against Texas and is 21-9 with a 2.60 ERA. On September 6, he defeated the Rangers after pitching seven innings while allowing two runs (one earned) and four hits.
Verlander has a 37-game postseason record of 36 starts and a 3.51 ERA. In Game 1 of the AL Division Series, he defeated the Minnesota Twins by pitching six innings of scoreless relief. The Rangers’ Marcus Semien has had success against Verlander. In his career, Semien is 14 for 46 (.304) with two home runs.
The Houston offense, which has thrived all season when playing at Globe Life Field, will be hoping for more from Semien. In 2023, the Astros have an 8-1 record and defeated Texas by an average of nine runs in those nine games. In its last six games in Arlington, Houston has scored 69 runs. Jose Abreu hit a three-run home run and Yordan Alvarez also drove in three runs as the Astros won 10-3 last night to tie the series at 2-2.
For the second time in the series, Montgomery will make an effort to slow the Astros down. In 6 1/3 scoreless innings in Game 1, he only gave up five hits. Montgomery will make his fourth postseason start today. In the wild-card round, he also defeated the Tampa Bay Rays with seven scoreless innings. In the ALDS, he was given a no-decision after allowing five runs (four earned) in four innings against the Baltimore Orioles.
In six starts against Houston during the regular season, Montgomery went 1-1 with a 3.73 ERA. On June 27, he pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals as they defeated the Astros 4-2. Montgomery allowed two runs (one earned) over 6.1 innings. Against Montgomery, Martin Maldonado is 3-for-5 with two home runs.
The Astros are now 8-0 in their last eight road games and they are 9-3 in the last 12 against Texas. The Rangers are 7-2 in their last nine with the only two losses coming over the past two nights. Seven of the last eight Astros-Rangers games have gone Over the total. In their last 17 home games, the Rangers have seen the total go Over 13 times.
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