STONE COLD 'STROS
Here's who has the edge in Astros-Rangers intrastate ALCS slobberknocker
Oct 12, 2023, 3:03 pm
Which team has THE EDGE in Astros-Rangers intrastate ALCS slobberknocker!
The ALCS is set with the Texas Rangers heading to Minute Maid Park to play the Astros in Game 1 on Sunday night.
It's no secret that these teams don't like one another, so it should make for an entertaining series. Houston will send Justin Verlander to the mound to face LHP Jordan Montgomery in the first game.
It will be interesting to see if Dusty Baker will start Michael Brantley against the lefty, or if we'll see Mauricio Dubon and Chas McCormick in the outfield, with Yordan Alvarez hitting DH. When Brantley and McCormick are both playing, the Astros lineup gets scary deep. Rest could be a factor for Uncle Mike and his shoulder, but he'll have three days off before the team plays Sunday.
Tale of the Tape
The Rangers had the more potent offense in the regular season, but this is the playoffs. Just look at how different a hitter Jose Abreu is right now compared to the regular season.
As far as pitching goes, the Astros get the edge in the bullpen. One could argue that the starting pitching is a wash, and we don't know how Rangers ace Max Scherzer and Jon Gray will factor in as they're trying to return from injury.
Don't miss the video above as we preview the Rangers series and much more!
If you enjoy the videos, subscribe on YouTube so you don't miss the latest Stone Cold 'Stros videos.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.