Here's who has the edge in Astros-Rangers intrastate ALCS slobberknocker
STONE COLD 'STROS
12 October 2023
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.
Hunter Brown pitched two-hit ball into the sixth inning, and the Houston Astros beat the slumping Cincinnati Reds 3-0 on Friday night.
Brown (6-1) struck out nine, matching his season high for the fourth straight start. The right-hander also issued a season-high four walks in his fifth consecutive win.
Brown departed after Gavin Lux walked with two out in the sixth. Kaleb Ort got Spencer Steer to bounce into a forceout at second.
Josh Hader handled the ninth for his ninth save.
Cincinnati finished with four hits in its sixth loss in seven games.
Reds right-hander Nick Martinez (1-4) surrendered 10 hits and three runs in six innings. He struck out five and walked none.
Zach Dezenzo hit a two-out RBI single in the second, and the Astros added two more runs in the fifth.
Mauricio Dubón followed Brendan Rodgers’ leadoff double with a chopper past third baseman Santiago Espinal, moving Rodgers to third. Jeremy Peña drove in Rodgers with a groundout to second, and Isaac Paredes doubled home Dubón with two down.
Jose Altuve, Christian Walker, and Yainer Diaz each had two hits for the Astros.
Cincinnati's Austin Hays returned from the injured list after missing 10 games with a left hamstring strain. He went 1 for 4.
Reds outfielder Jake Fraley was scratched due to left calf tenderness after missing the last two games.
Key moment
Tyler Stephenson hit a one-out double for Cincinnati in the ninth. But Hader struck out Rece Hinds and Espinal, ending the game.
Key stat
It was Houston's first win against the Reds since June 19, 2016, ending a nine-game skid.
Up next
Lance McCullers Jr. (0-0 0.00 ERA) will make his second start of the season and first home start since October 3, 2022, against Reds right-hander Brady Singer (4-2 3.66 ERA) on Saturday night.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
