The Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers play Game 3 of the best-of-7 American League Championship Series Wednesday. First pitch from Globe Life Field is scheduled for 8:03 p.m. ET (FS1).
ALCS: Rangers lead 2-0
The Astros are in an ugly spot after losing 2 games at home. Houston now needs to win 4 of the next 5 games to make it back to the World Series.
In the postseason, the Astros are just 3-3, including 1-3 in 4 games as a favorite. The Over is 4-2 in 6 playoff games.
The Rangers are perfect (7-for-7 in the postseason. Oddly enough, Texas has played just once at home in these playoffs, a 7-1 win in Game 3 of the ALDS to eliminate the Baltimore Orioles as a favorite (-134) as the Over (7.5) came in.
Texas is favored Wednesday, and it is just the 2nd time in the postseason it has been favored. The Under holds a slight 4-3 edge versus the Over for the Rangers in 7 postseason games.
Astros at Rangers projected starters
RHP Cristian Javier vs. RHP Max Scherzer
Javier made 31 starts in the regular season, going 10-5 with a 4.56 ERA. He had a 1.27 WHIP, 3.4 BB/9 and 8.8 K/9 over 162 innings.
- Last start: Win, 5 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 5 BB, 9 K in 9-1 road win vs. the Minnesota Twins in Game 3 of the ALDS last Tuesday
- 2023 road splits: 5-3, 5.17 ERA (94 IP, 54 ER), 18 HR in 18 starts
- Making his 4th career postseason start and 16th overall appearance
Scherzer was 13-6 with a 3.77 ERA across 27 regular-season starts with the Mets and Rangers. He had a 1.12 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9 and 10.3 K/9 in 152 2/3 innings.
- Last start: Win, 5 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 K in 6-3 road win vs. the Toronto Blue Jays Sept. 12
- 2023 home splits: 8-4, 4.31 ERA (85 2/3 IP, 41 ER), 21 HR in 15 starts in the regular season
- Making his 23rd career postseason start and 28th overall appearance