Astros' Baker Says Agreement Was to Keep Roof Closed for ALCS Games

ARLINGTON, Texas — The roof at Globe Life Field will be open for Game 4 of the American League Championship Series between the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers.

It will be the first game of the series in which the roof will be open. Wednesday’s Game 3, along with the first two games at Minute Maid Park in Houston, saw their roofs closed.

Astros' manager Dusty Baker said before Thursday’s game that he was surprised by the decision. He believed there was an understanding that the roof would remain closed at both venues.

“We were told there was an agreement we wouldn’t have the roof open in either place. I don’t know what changed,” Baker said.

Baker answered a follow-up question and said it was "above me."

"I don't know, man. I got word prior to us coming here that there was an agreement that both sides would close their roofs. So that's above me," he said.

Per The Dallas Morning News, both teams requested the roof be closed for Game 3, but the Rangers requested the roof be open for Game 4. At that point, the league considered the Rangers' criteria for the roof being open and approved it being open.

Despite Baker saying that he thought an agreement was in place to keep both roofs closed, MLB confirmed there was not.

The Rangers' criteria for opening the roof include if the temperature during the game is expected to drop below 65 or rise above 80. The roof is usually closed if the humidity is expected to be above 50 percent.

One of the factors considered is the surface of the concourse and other concrete walking surfaces in the ballpark. These surfaces can become slick in high humidity, so keeping the roof closed prevents those issues.

The Rangers made the initial announcement about the status of the roof via tweet from John Blake, the team’s executive vice president of public affairs.

“Consistent with the guidelines used during the regular season, Major League Baseball has determined that the Globe Life Field roof will be open for tonight’s ALCS Game 4,” read the tweet.

The roof was not open for any of the Astros-Rangers games at Globe Life Field during the regular season. The last time the roof was open for a Rangers game was May 21 vs. Colorado.

2023 ALCS schedule

Best-of-seven

Game 1: Texas 2, Houston 0

Game 2: Texas 5, Houston 4

Game 3: Houston 8, Texas 5 (Rangers lead series, 2-1)

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: Texas at Houston, 7:03 p.m. (FS1)

Game 7*: Monday: Texas at Houston, 7:03 p.m. (Fox/FS1)

*If necessary