Houston Astros Set Starting Pitcher for ALCS Game 2

The Houston Astros and Texas Rangers have set their starting pitchers for Game 2 of the American League Championship Series on Monday and it’s the matchup most expected.

The Astros will start Framber Valdez and the Rangers will start Nathan Eovaldi.

Valdez has made one postseason start so far, as he took the loss in Game 2 of the AL Division Series against the Minnesota Twins. In that game, he threw 4.1 innings, giving up seven hits, five earned runs and a home run. He struck out five and walked three.

He does have extensive postseason experience, as in three previous postseasons (2020-22) he pitched in 13 games and made 12 starts. He has a 7-2 record, including a pristine 3-0 mark in the 2022 postseason as the Astros won their second World Series title. He had a 1.44 ERA in that postseason, with 33 strikeouts and eight walks in 25 innings.

For the regular season, Valdez went 12-11 with a 3.45 ERA as he threw his first career no-hitter in August. He struck out a career high 200 and walked 57 in 198 innings.

He made three starts against the Rangers in the regular season. On April 16 he took the loss as he allowed four hits and five runs (one earned) in six innings. He struck out seven and walked two. That game was at Minute Maid Park.

Valdez faced them again on July 26 at Minute Maid Park and again took the loss, giving up eight hits and six earned runs in 3.2 innings. He allowed two home runs and two walks, but only struck out one.

In his last start against Texas on Sept. 5 at Globe Life Field Valdez looked like an ace, giving up six hits and one run in seven innings as he took the win. He struck out four and walked four.

Eovaldi, an Alvin, Texas, native — which is where Rangers and Astros legend Nolan Ryan grew up — will make his third postseason start. He is already 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA in two postseason starts, as he struck out 15 and walked none in 13.2 postseason innings.

Eovaldi is one of the game’s top active postseason pitchers, as he is 6-3 with a 2.70 ERA, with 56 strikeouts and eight walks. That includes helping the Boston Red Sox to a World Series title in 2018.

Eovaldi has faced the Astros twice this season. On July 1 at Globe Life Field the right-hander threw seven shutout innings and gave up just two hits, as he struck out five and walked four and he won his 10th game of the regular season.

His next start against Houston was on Sept. 5, and it was his first after more than a month on the injured list with a right forearm strain. He absorbed the loss and threw just 1.1 innings, as he allowed five hits and four earned runs. He struck out one and walked one. He threw just 35 pitches.

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