On Sunday evening at Minute Maid Park, the American League Championship Series between the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers will get underway with Game 1. The Astros and Rangers wound up tied within the regular-season standings, however Houston took the AL West name by way of tiebreaker. That method they loved a first-round bye ahead of downing the Twins in 4 video games within the ALDS to get right here. The Rangers, intervening time, swept the Rays in two video games within the Wild Card Series after which swept the Orioles in 3 video games within the ALDS. The reigning-champion Astros are collaborating of their 7th directly ALCS, whilst Texas is right here for the primary time since 2011.
During the steady season, the Astros gained 9 of 13 head-to-head conferences with the Rangers and out-scored them 93-74 in the ones contests. While each groups had 90-72 information, the Rangers had the awesome run differential (plus-165 to Houston’s plus-129).
You can view the entire postseason agenda by way of clicking right here, and this is the 2023 playoff bracket. Now, let’s get to the essential stuff for the ALCS.
Astros vs. Rangers agenda
Sunday, Oct. 15
Game 1: Rangers at Astros, 8:15 p.m. ET, Fox
Monday, Oct. 16
Game 2: Rangers at Astros, 4:37 p.m. ET, Fox/FS1
Wednesday, Oct. 18
Game 3: Astros at Rangers, 8:03 p.m. ET, FS1
Thursday, Oct. 19
Game 4: Astros at Rangers, 8:03 p.m. ET, FS1
Friday, Oct. 20
Game 5 (if important): Astros at Rangers, 5:07 p.m. ET, FS1
Sunday, Oct. 22
Game 6 (if important): Rangers at Astros, 8:03 p.m. ET, FS1
Monday, Oct. 23
Game 7 (if important): Rangers at Astros, 8:03 p.m. ET, Fox/FS1
How to look at Game 1
Date: Sunday, Oct. 15 | Time: 8:15 p.m.
Location: Minute Maid Park (Houston, Texas)
TV channel: Fox | Live stream: fubo (take a look at totally free)
Starting pitchers: TBA vs. TBA
Astros vs. Rangers odds
Game 1 odds: HOU -140| TEX +118 | O/U: 9.0
Preview
The stakes are certainly prime on this best-of-seven sequence to resolve who represents the AL within the World Series. Across all best-of-seven postseason sequence in MLB historical past, the winner of Game 1 is going directly to take the sequence 64.4% of the time. While it is going to or might not be value noting, the Astros this season have been under .500 in house video games. Verlander, who is been in ace shape in recent times, most likely will get the beginning in entrance of an absolutely rested Houston bullpen.
Prediction
Verlander and the Astros’ pen, which is far better than Texas’ pen, limits the wear in opposition to a powerhouse Texas offense. Meantime, the Astros — no slouch with the bats themselves — pounce on an unsure Texas pitching state of affairs. Pick: Astros 7, Rangers 4.
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