ALCS GAME 5 AT A GLANCE

Astros-Red Sox Game 5 preview: Win or stay home

Astros-Red Sox Game 5 preview: Win or stay home
Justin Verlander will try to keep the Astros alive. Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images

It's all or nothing now. The Astros now have to achieve a very unlikely feat: beating the best regular-season team in three straight games, two of which would be in Boston, to move on. It starts tonight with Game 5, where they'll have their best chance at a win with ace Justin Verlander on the mound. Be sure to catch our recap of the game after the final pitch:

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Minute Maid.

TV: TBS.

Streaming: TBS App.

Pitching matchup: Justin Verlander vs. David Price.

Series: Red Sox lead 3-1.

The breakdown: It's an elimination game for the Astros. This will be their last game in Houston in the ALCS, and their last time with a normally-rested Verlander on the mound to start. Boston is slated to send out David Price, despite Price warming in the bullpen late in last night's game. It's yet to be determined how long Boston expects Price to stay in the game tonight, but the Astros will try to get him out early like they did in Game 2 where they tagged him with four runs in four and two-thirds innings. For this, and hopefully, the other remaining games that they could force, the key to winning for the Astros will be stifling Boston's hot offense, and getting more done on offense themselves to convert more scoring opportunities and leave fewer runners on base. It's no longer about the series, it's all about these nine innings, and executing to force another game to be able to play again on Saturday.

Series schedule:

  Result / Date & Time Location Pitching matchup
Game 1 Astros 7, Red Sox 2 Boston Verlander (W) vs. Sale (ND)
Game 2  Astros 5, Red Sox 7 Boston Cole (L) vs. Price (ND)
Game 3 Astros 2, Red Sox 8 Minute Maid Keuchel (ND) vs. Eovaldi (W)
Game 4 Astros 6, Red Sox 8 Minute Maid Morton (ND) vs. Porcello (ND)
Game 5 Tonight, 7:00 PM Minute Maid Verlander vs. Price
Game 6*  Saturday 10/20, 4:00 PM Boston Cole+ vs. Sale+
Game 7* Sunday 10/21, 6:30 PM Boston TBD vs. TBD

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The Astros know how to win these games, and it shows

The Cubs beat the Astros, 12-3. Composite Getty Image.

Kyle Tucker launched a three-run homer and matched a season high with four hits against the team that traded him in December, and the Chicago Cubs routed Houston 12-3 on Saturday night to stop the Astros' five-game winning streak.

Tucker also scored four times to pace a Cubs lineup that pounded out 15 hits, including three by Dansby Swanson. Seiya Suzuki, Michael Busch and Nico Hoerner also went deep.

Chicago hit three homers in an inning for the second time this season during a seven-run fourth. Busch and Hoerner had back-to-back solo shots to put the Cubs on top 3-2, and Tucker’s drive made it 7-2.

The offensive outburst came in support of Colin Rea (5-3), who allowed two runs and five hits over five innings. The only blemish on his line was rookie Cam Smith’s two-run homer in the third, which briefly gave the Astros a 2-1 lead.

Smith, part of the package Houston received for Tucker, finished with two hits and has homered in consecutive games for the first time in his career.

Lance McCullers Jr. (1-3) came off the injured list and allowed eight runs on seven hits over 3 1/3 innings.

Isaac Paredes, also part of the Astros' trade return for Tucker, hit his 17th home run.

Key moment

Tucker’s three-run homer in the fourth that put the Cubs ahead 7-2.

Key stat

McCullers has a 10.89 ERA in five home starts this season, but hasn’t allowed an earned run in three road starts.

Up next

Houston LHP Framber Valdez (8-4, 2.88 ERA) opposes RHP Jameson Taillon (7-5, 4.77 ERA) when the series concludes Sunday.

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