Game: Houston Astros @ Texas Rangers
Time: 8:03 p.m.
Odds: Astros +115, Rangers -124
Total: 9
Although the Houston Astros may not have their backs against a wall, they are aware that they are just one step away from it. In Game 3 of the American League Championship Series against the scorching Texas Rangers tonight in Arlington, Texas, the Astros are unquestionably in must-win mode.
The first two games of the best-of-seven series were won by the Rangers on the road, 2-0 and 5-4 respectively, extending their postseason winning streak to seven games. To get back in the series against their American League West and in-state rival, Houston needs a quick turnaround.
The fact that the Astros destroyed the Rangers in a three-game series in Arlington in early September is one thing in their favor. Houston outscored Texas 39-10 while hitting a stunning 16 home runs. One of those games came against tonight’s starting pitcher for the Rangers, Max Scherzer. On September 6, the Astros pounded Scherzer for seven runs and six hits in three innings of a 12-3 defeat. Yordan Alvarez hit a two-run homer, Michael Brantley hit a solo shot, and Jose Abreu hit a grand slam.
Against Scherzer, Brantley is 20-for-54 (.370) with three home runs, eight doubles, and one triple. In 10 career regular-season appearances against Houston (nine starts), Scherzer is 5-2 with a 3.84 ERA. In two starts during the 2019 World Series, he went 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA and assisted the Washington Nationals in defeating the Astros. In his 27 career postseason appearances (22 starts), Scherzer is 7-7 with a 3.58 ERA.
This will be Scherzer’s first start since Sept. 12. He was out with a muscle strain in his shoulder. Scherzer missed the first two series but was activated for the ALCS. He is 13-7 with a 3.77 ERA this season. Scherzer will go up against Houston’s Cristian Javier (10-5, 4.56).
In three career postseason starts, Javier hasn’t given up a run. In 16.1 innings, the right-hander has given up just two hits, including a brilliant six innings in Houston’s historic combined no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 4 of the World Series last year. The 26-year-old Javier will make his second start in this postseason. In five innings of scoreless work, he defeated the Minnesota Twins in Game 3 of the AL Division Series. Overall in 15 postseason outings, Javier is 5-1 with a 1.91 ERA.
Against the Rangers, Javier has appeared 14 times, 10 of which were starts. He is 5-1 with a 3.84 ERA. However, on July 3, Texas smacked Javier around in 4.1 innings. The Rangers had nine hits and scored eight runs though the Astros did end up winning the game 12-11.
The Astros are actually 7-3 SU in their last 10 games against the Rangers. They are also 7-3 in their last 10 games overall. Five of the last six Astros-Rangers games have gone Over the total.
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