ALDS GAME 2 AT A GLANCE
Astros-Indians Game 2 preview: Pivotal game for both teams
Oct 6, 2018, 6:48 am
he ALDS series between the Astros and Indians will continue Saturday afternoon with Game 2 in Houston. Check back right after the game for a full recap:
When: 3:37 p.m.
Where: Minute Maid Park.
TV: TBS.
Streaming: TBS App.
Pitching matchup: Gerrit Cole vs. Carlos Carrasco.
Series: Astros lead 1-0.
The breakdown: We will get the chance to watch another strong pitching matchup in Game 2 today, with two 200+ strikeout pitchers going against each other in Cole and Carrasco. This is virtually a must-win game for the Indians, who would have to win three straight if they lose today, while a win for the Astros means they would only need one out of the next three games to move on to the ALCS. An Astros loss would make it a best of three with Cleveland hosting two of those games. The Astros will look to their offense to continue their playoff success at home to back up Cole on the mound.
Series schedule:
Game | Res./date . | Location | Pitching matchup |
1 | Astros 7, Indians 2 Minute Maid | Verlander (W) Kluber (L) | |
2 | Sat. 10/6, 3:37 PM | Minute Maid | Cole vs. Carrasco |
3 | Mon. 10/8, 12:30 PM | Cleveland | Keuchel vs. Clevinger |
4* | Tues. 10/9, 3:35 PM | Cleveland | Morton+ vs. TBD |
5* | Thu. 10/11, 3:07 PM | Minute Maid | Verlander+ vs. TBD |
* Games 4-5 are if necessary.
+-projected starters
Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez is going on the 10-day injured list with inflammation in his right hand.
The issue had caused the three-time All-Star to miss the last two games of the Astros’ weekend series with the Chicago White Sox. The move, announced before the Astros' Monday night game at Milwaukee, is retroactive to Saturday.
Houston recalled catcher César Salazar from Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move.
Alvarez, 27, has batted .210 with a .306 on-base percentage, three homers and 18 RBIs in 29 games this season. That follows a 2024 season in which he batted. 308 with a .392 on-base percentage, 35 homers and 86 RBIs in 147 games while earning a third straight All-Star Game selection and finishing ninth in the AL Most Valuable Player voting.
He has posted an OPS of at least .959 each of the past three seasons and ranked fourth in the AL in that category last year.
Salazar, 26, was hitting .197 with a .305 on-base percentage, two homers and seven RBIs in 21 games for Sugar Land. He hit .320 with a .387 on-base percentage, no homers and eight RBIs in 12 games with Houston last year.