What to expect from the Rangers-Astros ALCS series
This year’s ALCS is all about Texas. The Rangers enter this series 5-0 but will face the Astros, who historically look unstoppable in the playoffs.
ARLINGTON, Texas – Jose Altuve is set for the first 100 playoff games of his career. How far could he advance in the next century of games?
The Houston Astros star started Game 5 of the American League Championship Series at Globe Life Field this Friday. Altuve and the Astros are a decade removed from losing 110 games and have had almost continuous success since then.
At 33, Altuve looks as viable in the postseason as ever: He had three hits in Houston’s 10-3 win in Game 4 and five hits in his last nine at-bats. Thanks in part to an ever-growing catalog of postseason games, he ranks near the top in almost every offensive category.
His three runs scored in Game 4 moved him past Bernie Williams into second place in playoff history; His 85 runs still have some way to go to catch up with all-time leader Derek Jeter’s 111. Altuve is also second in career home runs with 25 and fourth in hits (112) and extra-base hits (45).
Altuve is under contract through 2024 and the Astros show little sign of slowing down.
“I’m just grateful to be here to play so many playoff games,” Altuve said Friday before Game 5. “And yeah, I’ve had some hits and home runs and individual stats (leaders) in the playoffs, but every time you play, you think about winning.
“I can say the stats mean something because you help the team, but it’s not the highlight at the end of the day. It’s about winning.”
Lots of that too. Only Braves pitchers Tom Glavine and John Smoltz have appeared in seven consecutive League Championship Series, as have Altuve and third baseman Alex Bregman. The Astros are two wins from their fifth World Series appearance in this run.
It passed quickly – and moves on quickly, too quickly for Altuve to think about it.
“You can ask me again when this whole thing is over,” he says of his most memorable moments during this phase. Maybe I have a better answer. I just enjoy everything.”
Follow us for live updates from Game 5 of the ALCS:
ARLINGTON, Texas – After nearly five innings and little hard contact, the Texas Rangers finally got to Justin Verlander.
First baseman Nathaniel Lowe rode a 95 mph fastball to left field and got just enough of it to evade Houston Astros left fielder Chas McCormick, and the Rangers tied Game 5 of the ALCS, 1-1.
By then, Verlander had given up just one hit and one walk, passing Texas starter Jordan Montgomery, whose only error was a home run by Alex Bregman in the first inning.
Despite the game-winning tally, Verlander and the Astros are in good shape: He has thrown just 67 pitches in five innings and expects to pass the ball to the best players in the Houston bullpen.
ARLINGTON, Texas – After two perfect innings, the Texas Rangers suddenly had Justin Verlander exactly where they wanted him: a walk, a single, runners on first and third and the leadoff leader with one out in the third.
And after two pitches it was over.
Sluggers Marcus Semien and Corey Seager each struck out on Verlander’s first pitch, sending both up, Semien to first base and Seager to shallow left field, and a golden opportunity wasted.
Verlander has thrown 35 pitches in three innings, and Houston’s powerhouse relievers – Hector Neris, Bryan Abreu and Ryan Pressly – are all rested and ready for this crucial fifth game.
While it’s still early, the Rangers could soon feel the pressure that comes with the Astros’ pitching.
– Gabe Lacques
ARLINGTON, Texas – For the third straight time, the Texas Rangers face an early inning deficit at their home stadium. Does this mean a third loss in this ALCS is on the cards?
Houston’s No. 3 batter Alex Bregman hit a home run into the left field seats on left-hander Jordan Montgomery’s fifth pitch in Game 4, and the Astros took a 1-0 lead before returning the ball for his 38th postseason start Justin Verlander handed over.
The pattern is known.
The Astros led 3-0 after two innings of Game 3 and one inning of Game 4 and won both, erasing a 2-0 ALCS deficit. Today’s winner secures the decisive 3-2 lead before the series continues to Houston for game six on Saturday.
The Astros pick up where they left off last night. Bregman puts them ahead in the 1st.
As a team, Houston hit .282 on fastballs in the regular season, the fourth-best performance in the MLB. pic.twitter.com/s22JbPSY2I
– Inside Edge (@IE_MLB) October 20, 2023
— Gabe Lacques
How to watch Astros vs. Rangers: Time, TV channel
Game 5 on Friday is scheduled to begin at 5:07 p.m. ET will continue to be broadcast Fox Sports 1
ARLINGTON, Texas – In eight postseason games, Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez is now batting .419 (13 for 31), reaching base at a .471 clip and has driven in 13 runs. It won’t appear on his playoff game log, but the record shows that the batters in front of and behind him in the lineup combined to score five runs.
And after being shut out 0-2 in Game 1 of this ALCS, the Astros scored four, eight and 10 runs in their next three games. The swagger is back, especially because of their cleanup hitter, who often moves silently but could make Bryce Harper the most impactful hitter in the game.
“Alvarez is on fire right now. And he’s the best hitter in the world,” said outfielder Chas McCormick, whose third home run of the season gave Houston a 9-3 lead. “So if our guy goes and we bring in Altuve and Jose Abreu, we’re one of the best teams in the world.
“Since Alvarez has hit the way he has hit, nothing can stop us at the moment.”
Astros vs. Rangers lineups, likely pitchers for ALCS Game 5
Houston Astros
Starting pitcher: RHP Justin Verlander – 13-8, 2.28 ERA regular season; 1.42 in 12 ⅔ innings postseason
Texas Rangers
Starting pitcher: LHP Jordan Montgomery – 10-11, 3.20 ERA regular season; 2-0, 2.08 ERA in 17⅓ innings postseason