ALCS TV Channel, Lineup, Pitchers
ARLINGTON, Texas – Yordan Alvarez is the lifeblood of the Houston Astros’ offense, a transcendent performer who is baffling manager Dusty Baker.
Do you want him to be at bat as much as possible? Or will he try to fill the bases with teammates before he steps up to bat?
In Game 3 of the ALCS, Alvarez was the No. 4 hitter for the second straight game, and the parts around him moved a lot. Struggling outfielder Kyle Tucker fell into the sixth hole, and Michael Brantley, who was out for 15 months with a shoulder injury before returning in August, moved up to second place.
“Try to get as many guys on base in front of Alvarez as you can. That was a clincher in my decision,” says Baker.
Hopefully Jose Altuve, Brantley, and new No. 3 hitter Alex Bregman will be on base in front of Alvarez, but Alvarez’s epic postseason is in jeopardy as the Astros are 2-0 in the ALCS.
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Brantley hit six home runs in six postseason games, including two in a 5-4 Game 2 loss at Houston. He has 12 home runs in the postseason, the most by a Cuban player in playoff history, including the hit in the sixth inning to shut out the Phillies and advance the Astros in Game 6 of the World Series. It also includes a huge shot.
“He was so hot last year that I stopped throwing to him the next series,” Baker said of Alvarez’s epic 2022 performance, which began with a game-saving home run against Seattle in the ALDS. Told. “We have tremendous confidence in him. He has confidence in himself.
“He doesn’t clown, he doesn’t showboat, he doesn’t do anything other than produce. Yeah, he’s rapidly becoming one of the best hitters in the game.
Astros vs. Rangers: ALCS game 3 times, TV channels, and how to watch
Wednesday night’s American League Championship Series game is 8:03 PM ET, Now on air fox sports 1.
Cristian Javier vs. Rangers, Max Scherzer vs. Astros stats
Cristian Javier was the Astros’ big game pitcher during the postseason, both as a starter and as a reliever. He appeared in 15 games and posted a 5-1 record with a 1.91 ERA over 37 2/3 innings. He is 3-0 in three starts, with no earned runs allowed in 16 1/3 innings.
- Javier, who started the season’s only game against Texas, gave up eight runs and nine hits in 4/3 innings in the final game of the series, which the Astros won 12-11 in Arlington in July.
This is the fifth team Scherzer has pitched for in the postseason, joining the Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets. The right-hander has a 7-7 record with a 3.58 ERA in 27 postseason games (22 of which were starts).
- Scherzer is 1-1 against the Astros this season. On June 19, when he was a member of the Mets, he had eight strikeouts and one run allowed in eight innings. His luck ran out in his start for the Rangers on September 6th. The Astros scored seven runs in three innings, all of which came from three home runs.
Max Scherzer returns for Rangers’ Game 3 vs. Astros
ARLINGTON, Texas – Pitcher Max Scherzer, 39, has not pitched since September 12, when he suffered a teres major contusion in his throwing shoulder during his first game in Toronto. Scherzer said he was relieved that the injury did not require surgery and that he could continue playing in preparation for his return in the postseason.
This was a scenario that was both good news and bad news for the Rangers. Certainly, the Rangers will keep the veteran right-hander, imported in July, available for the playoffs. But they will also have to deal with his famous impatience, lobbying and proverbial mound-gnawing to get back on their feet.
He held a bullpen session in Baltimore to plead his case. “Maybe not yet,” the Rangers said.
They improved their postseason record to 7-0, winning three consecutive games against the Orioles following a wild-card game against the Tampa Bay Rays, and two road wins in the ALCS.
Rangers are at the top. And while Scherzer threw 69 pitches in a mock game last week, now is the time.
Scherzer said: Just keep doing it. Now it’s my turn to get back into the fight and go out there and give it my all. ” − Gabe Lux
Evan Carter, the No. 3 batter in Game 3 of the ALCS.
Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter is only 21 years old, but he remains unfazed by the pressure of the playoffs. Manager Bruce Bochy hinted at moving the left fielder up in the batting order, and he did so as the No. 3 batter in Game 3. In doing so, Carter will become the second-youngest player to start and bat third in either the League Championship Series or the World Series.
The rookie batted ninth in the final month of the regular season, but moved up to the No. 5 spot against the Baltimore Orioles in the ALDS.
Pitchers expected to be in the starting lineup for Astros and Rangers
astros
RHP Cristian Javier − 10 wins and 5 losses in the regular season, 4.55 ERA. In the 2023 postseason, he is 1-0 with 0 earned runs and 9 strikeouts in 5.0 innings.
- Jose Altuve, 2B
- Michael Brantley, LF
- Alex Bregman, 3B
- Yordan Alvarez, DH
- Jose Abreu, 1B
- Kyle Tucker, RF
- Mauricio Dubon, CF
- Jeremy Peña, SS
- Martin Maldonado, C
rangers
RHP Max Scherzer − 13 wins and 6 losses in the regular season, 3.77 ERA. First postseason appearance in 2023
- Marcus Semien, 2B
- Corey Seager, SS
- Evan Carter, LF
- Adris Garcia, RF
- Jonah Heim, C
- Mitch Garber, DH
- Nathaniel Rowe, 1B
- Josh Jung, 3B
- Leody Taveras, CF
