Astros defeat the Guardians, 4-3. Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images.

Justin Verlander gave up three runs in six innings for his 262nd victory and the AL West champion Houston Astros beat the Cleveland Guardians 4-3 on Saturday night.

Verlander (5-6), who gave up seven hits and struck out five without a walk, won for the second time in three starts and lowered his ERA to 5.48. It was the longest outing since May 29 for the right-hander, who missed two months with neck discomfort.

“I worked hard for this and it was probably the best I’ve felt since coming back,” the likely Hall of Famer said. “I’m realistic. I know I haven’t been as sharp as I need to be, but I feel like I’m inching in the right direction.”

José Ramírez hit his 39th homer and drove in three runs for the AL Central champion Guardians, moving within one home run of becoming the seventh player in major league history with 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a season. He already has 41 steals this season.

“Ramírez is such an incredible hitter, you’ve got to tip your hat to him,” said Verlander, who is 24-24 with a 4.42 ERA in 57 career starts against Cleveland. “It wasn’t a bad pitch and he hit it out. It’s impressive.”

The Guardians’ defeat clinched home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs for the New York Yankees, who lost to the Pirates 9-4. Both teams have first-round byes.

Shawn Dubin worked a scoreless ninth for his second save. Houston will host either Detroit or Kansas City in the best-of-three AL Wild Card Series beginning Tuesday.

The 41-year-old Verlander ranks 40th in career victories and would be part of the rotation if he is chosen for Houston’s postseason roster, manager Joe Espada said.

“There was a real intention there tonight to show he can really deliver — and he did,” Espada said. “He threw the ball really, really well and even got to 97 (mph) to Ramírez.”

Verlander said he has not been told if he will be in uniform for the start of the playoffs.

“I don’t know, that’s a conversation with Joe that I’m sure we’ll have,” he said.

Zach Dezenzo had an RBI single in the first and Jon Singleton walked with the bases loaded during Houston’s three-run second inning. A throwing error by Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio plated the final two runs.

Ramírez hit a two-run homer in the first and had a sacrifice fly in the third. The six-time All-Star third baseman doubled in the eighth for his 1,500th career hit.

“It’s been an unbelievable year to watch Josey, so much fun,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. “It will be fun to see what happens tomorrow.”

Guardians starter Ben Lively (13-10) pitched four innings, giving up two earned and two unearned runs.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: OF Yordan Alvarez (right knee sprain) has been fitted with a brace and could resume baseball activities Sunday. Alvarez last appeared in a game on Sept. 22.

Guardians: RHP Alex Cobb (right third finger blister) reported no issues after a bullpen session at Progressive Field. He is scheduled to throw a simulated game Sunday.

UP NEXT

Astros RHP Ryan Gusto is likely to be promoted from the taxi squad and make his major league debut in the regular-season finale. Guardians RHP Gavin Williams (3-10, 4.86 ERA) will work as the bulk reliever behind RHP Nick Sandlin.

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The Longhorns host Georgia on Saturday night. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

By any measure, from the official statistics to the informal eye test, top-ranked Texas' defense has been dominant.

The Longhorns rank No. 1 in total defense and scoring defense. They are top 10 in first downs allowed, tackles for loss and passing yards. Much of that is built against opponents starting former walk-on quarterbacks ( Michigan ) and freshmen ( Mississippi State and Oklahoma.)

But the level of quarterback play Texas will face, in both talent and experience, is about to get much better over the second half of the season.

Texas hosts No. 5 Georgia on Saturday night in the first matchup of top five teams in Austin since 2006, before playing the next week at Vanderbilt. Bulldogs senior Carson Beck was a preseason first team Associated Press All-America pick, and standout Vanderbilt transfer Diego Pavia has carried the Commodores to a surprising 4-2 start, including a historic win over then-No. 1 Alabama.

Quite simply, Texas hasn't defended this caliber of quarterback all season.

Beck is a player on the doorstep of the NFL, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said.

“There's nothing in the throw game (Beck) can't do,” Sarkisian said. “He's played enough football now, too. It's kind of hard to confuse guys when they've played that much football.”

Texas (6-0, 2-0 SEC) has allowed just one team to pass for more than 200 yards this season. Beck passed for 459 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions last week in a 41-31 win over Mississippi State. His 36 completions set a Georgia record.

Even when Beck struggled early in Georgia's loss to Alabama, he rallied the Bulldogs to a late fourth-quarter lead. He finished with 439 yards in the loss where Georgia's rally ended with an Alabama interception in the end zone in the final minute.

Sarkisian recruited Beck when the Texas coach was an assistant at Alabama. Beck had initially committed to the Crimson Tide before switching to Georgia.

Beck is 18-2 in his career as a starter, and 6-2 against top 20 opponents.

The Bulldogs (5-1, 3-1) will need another exceptional game from him Saturday. A second SEC loss could threaten any chance of playing for the SEC championship, and raise the alarms on the College Football Playoff as well.

Texas has all but overwhelmed opposing quarterbacks so far.

In last week's 34-3 thrashing of rival Oklahoma, the Longhorns sacked Sooners freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. five times, and held him to 27 yards on 20 carries. Texas allowed just 225 total yards.

Hawkins was the first Sooners freshman to start at quarterback against the Longhorns in the 120-year history of the rivalry and was quickly swallowed up by a relentless pass rush.

By the numbers, the Longhorns program is on pace for a historic season. Sarkisian has said his favorite stat is points allowed, which is not many.

Texas has surrendered only three touchdowns all season. Opponents have snatched four turnovers inside Texas territory, but none have produced points.

That ability to snuff momentum can drain an opponent, Sarkisian said.

“We're so composed as a defense,” Texas safety Michael Taaffe said. “We're so confident, that no matter what happens, everything is going to be alright.”

The only time Texas has trailed this season was a 3-0 early deficit against Oklahoma. Several Longhorns starters were still on the field when the Sooners' final drive stalled at the Texas 6-yard-line as the game ended.

The stars emerging for the Longhorns have been second-year linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. and freshman edge rusher Colin Simmons.

Hill leads the team in total tackles (42), sacks (4 1/2) and tackles for loss (8 1/2). His sideline-to-sideline speed and move this season from the edge to the middle of the Texas defense has drawn comparisons to former Longhorns All-American Derrick Johnson 20 years ago.

Simmons has four sacks and 7 1/2 tackles for losses, second on the team in both categories.

“Size, speed,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said in summing up the Texas defense.

“They’re the complete package on defense," Smart said. "The consistency you watch them play with, it reminds me of some of our best teams here.”By any measure, from the official statistics to the informal eye test, top-ranked Texas' defense has been dominant.