The Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros meet Sunday in MLB postseason action from Minute Maid Park. This will be Game 6 in a best-of-seven American League Championship Series playoff. The road team has won every game so far, as Houston is up 3-2 in the ALCS following a trio of victories at Globe Life Field in the last three matchups. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Texas Rangers
The Rangers started out great in this ALCS, taking a pair of wins at Minute Maid Park 2-0 and 5-4 in the first two games. Texas has been disappointing at home, however. The Rangers lost every game at Globe Life Field 8-5, 10-3 and 5-4. In Friday’s Game 5 loss, Texas had a 4-2 lead after the sixth inning but then gave up three runs in the top of the ninth. Adolis Garcia (three RBI) and Nathaniel Lowe (solo) provided all of the RBI by home run along the way to a controversial finish.
For the starting pitcher gig in this important Game 6 matchup, the Rangers will turn to Nathan Eovaldi. This year Eovaldi is 3-0 in his three postseason starts, bagging a 2.29 ERA and 24 Ks in 19.2 innings. Eovaldi is 7-3 in his playoffs career with a 2.87 ERA.
Texas Rangers Team Facts
- The Rangers have won each of their last six games as underdogs.
- The Rangers have covered the run line each of their last eight road games against teams that held a winning record.
- The Rangers have led after 3 innings in each of their last three games as underdogs against American League opponents.
- The Rangers have led after 7 innings in each of their last six playoff games as underdogs.
- The Rangers have led after 5 innings in each of their last six playoff games as underdogs.
Houston Astros
Over on the Astros’ side, they got a three-run go-ahead home run in the ninth inning of Game 5 courtesy of Jose Altuve. The benches cleared in a massive brawl during the eighth inning however, after Houston receiver Bryan Abreu hit Adolis Garcia in the back with a fastball. Three ejections occurred, so we can expect to see a residual storyline emerging in Sunday’s matchup. Things could get messy if tempers flare once again.
It’ll be Framber Valdez on the mound for the start in Game 6 for Houston. So far this postseason Valdez has struggled with an 0-2 record and an 11.57 ERA over two starts. Valdez has struck out 11 batters in 7.0 frames during that time.
Houston Astros Team Facts
- The underdogs have won each of the last nine games between the Rangers and Astros.
- The underdogs have covered the run line in each of the last 13 games between the Rangers and Astros.
- The Astros have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last six night games at Minute Maid Park against American League opponents.
- The Astros have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last three games as favorites against American League opponents.
- The Astros have trailed after 7 innings in each of their last six games at Minute Maid Park against AL West opponents that held a winning record.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Houston Astros rank 3rd in the league for hits this season (1441).
- The Houston Astros rank 3rd in the league for strikeouts against this season (1241).
- The Texas Rangers rank 2nd in the league for hits this season (1470).
- The Texas Rangers rank 2nd in the league for doubles this season (326).
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll probably lean toward the Rangers in this one. It’s looking like it’ll be another tight, emotional matchup, though. The good news for Texas is how well Eovaldi has been playing so far this postseason. Eovaldi was able to keep things manageable for the Rangers in his last outing during Game 2, giving up three earned on five hits and a walk alongside nine Ks in 6.0 frames. Texas is going to need another quality start here, as well as a solid bullpen performance to set themselves up for a potential decisive Game 7. The pitching hasn’t come through over the last three games, though: Texas has given up 23 runs in that time versus just four in the first two installments.
As for Houston, they’ve got to get Valdez going in this start. He gave up four earned in 2.2 innings on seven hits and a walk in Game 2, but the Astros bats did well enough to keep them in the game. We’ll probably see some warnings (and maybe some more ejections) as the bad blood persists, but if the game is close both teams will probably behave themselves. Should be another great one to watch.
