Houston Astros Set Game 1 ALCS Starter vs. Texas Rangers
The Houston Astros are expected to start right-hander Justin Verlander in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, which starts on Sunday in Houston against the Texas Rangers, per MLB.com.
It would be Verlander’s 14th Game 1 start in a playoff series that includes two World Series titles, both of which came with the Houston Astros in 2017 and 2022.
This is not the first time he’ll meet the Texas Rangers in the ALCS, either. In 2011 he and the Detroit Tigers faced the Texas Rangers in the ALCS. Verlander started Game 1 of that series and took the loss in a game the Rangers won, 3-2, and which featured two rain delays.
Verlander returned to start Game 5 in the series and took the victory, as the Tigers won, 7-5, to avoid elimination.
Oddly, Texas Rangers starter Max Scherzer was part of that Tigers roster and took the loss in the decisive Game 6. It’s not clear yet if Scherzer will be available for the Rangers in the ALCS as he is still working back from a strained teres major.
Verlander won Game 1 of the ALDS against the Minnesota Twins. He’ll be pitching on a week’s rest.
He left the Astros in the offseason for a new contract with the New York Mets — where he was teammates with Scherzer once again — only to have the team fail to contend and for the Mets to trade each to the Lone Star State. Verlander got off to a slow start this season due to injury.
But, once he rejoined the Astros, his performance picked up.
In 11 starts for the Astros, he went 7-3 with a 3.31 ERA and threw twice on their final road trip of the season, during which he won both teams and the Astros went 5-1 to draw into a tie at the top of the AL West.
Because the Astros went 9-4 against the Rangers in the regular season, the Astros will host the first two games of the ALCS on Sunday and Monday.
2023 ALCS schedule
Game 1: Sunday: Texas at Houston, 7:15 p.m. (Fox)
Game 2: Monday: Texas at Houston, 3:37 p.m. (Fox or FS1)
Game 3: Wednesday: Houston at Texas, 7:03 p.m. (FS1)
Game 4: Thursday: Houston at Texas, 7:03 p.m. (FS1)
Game 5*: Friday: Houston at Texas, 4:07 p.m. (FS1)
Game 6*: Sunday, Oct. 22: Texas at Houston, 7:03 p.m. (FS1)
Game 7*: Monday, Oct. 23: Texas at Houston, 7:03 p.m. (Fox/FS1)
*If necessary
