These Houston Astros' Role Players Key to Winning ALCS
The Houston Astros have delivered in pressure moments time and time again during their incredible postseason run.
They've won the American League four times and the World Series twice since their run began in 2017.
The Astros will now face the pressure of playing their heated rival Texas Rangers in a divisional showdown with a trip to the World Series on the line.
Houston's star players Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve, Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez have proven they'll show up during playoff baseball. Their top two pitchers Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez have postseason pedigree that not many others do.
That's why it will be on the role players Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy to perform and play a key role in the Astros advancing past this round.
Verlander will get the ball in Game 1 and Valdez will get it in Game 2.
So, it will be on the arms of Javier and Urquidy to deliver quality starts when the series flips to the road portion.
Javier has delivered in the past.
In 15 postseason appearances, he has an ERA of 1.91 across 37 2/3 innings pitched.
After posting his career high ERA in the 2023 regular season, Javier threw five scoreless innings in his lone ALDS start, allowing only one hit and striking out nine batters.
Urquidy is in a similar situation.
He also posted his career high ERA during the regular season with a 5.29 after missing extended periods of time due to injury.
But when the postseason started, he also delivered a gem in his lone start, allowing two runs across 5 2/3 innings pitched.
Houston won both of their World Series championships on the strength of their pitching staff.
For them to repeat as champions, they'll need these role players to continue rising to the moment like they've done in the past.
