The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros meet in the 2023 American League Championship Series (AP … [+]
The Texas Rangers lost the AL West division on the last day of the regular season. But after sweeping through the MLB Playoffs Wild Card round and Divisional Series, the Rangers play their rival, AL West champion Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series (ALCS).
The MLB Playoffs have shown us again that not only is playoff baseball the most exciting time, but also quite unpredictable in October as more memorable moments are created during the most special time of the sports season. The two teams in the American League with the best records were eliminated by Texas, as both the Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles were dispatched in best-of-3 and best-of-5 playoff series sweeps.
The National League Playoffs saw the top seed Atlanta Braves eliminated by NL East rival Philadelphia Phillies. The No. 2 seed Los Angels Dodgers were swept by NL West rival Arizona Diamondbacks, who won 16 fewer games during the regular season than the Dodgers. The Diamondbacks have matched the Rangers with a 5-0 record in the playoffs.
American League Championship Series And Odds
Major League Baseball odds from FanDuel Sportsbook refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting.
Best of 7 series – Bet Rangers, and after Game 1 if they lose
Game 1 – Sunday, Oct. 15 at 8:15 p.m. ET on FOX
- Texas (+126) at Houston (-148), Total 8.5
MLB probable pitchers
Jordan Mongomery vs. Justin Verlander
Game 2 – Monday, Oct. 16 at 4:37 p.m. ET on FOX
- Texas (Nathan Eovaldi) at Houston (Framber Valdez)
Rangers vs. Astros ALCS Preview
The Astros are appearing in their record-setting seventh consecutive ALCS after taking out the Minnesota Twins in the American League Divisional Series. The Astros went 9-4 vs. the Rangers in 13 meetings this season.
Rangers vs. Astros Advanced Stats
Advanced statistics courtesy of FanGraphs.
Rangers (90-72/2nd in AL West):
- Run Differential: +185 (3rd)
- Home Record: 50-31
- Away Record: 40-41
- Offensive Stats:
- HRs: 233 (4th)
- wOBA: .340 (3rd)
- SLG: .452 (3rd)
- BB%: 9.5% (5th)
- K%: 22.5% (16th-worst)
- Pitching Stats:
- SIERA: 4.24 (18th)
- xFIP: 4.35 (18th)
- BB%: 8.1% (11th-best)
- K%: 22.4% (10th-worst)
Astros (90-72/1st in AL West):
- Run Differential: +136 (5th)
- Home Record: 39-42
- Away Record: 51-30
- Offensive Stats:
- HRs: 222 (7th)
- wOBA: .332 (5th)
- SLG: .437 (6th)
- BB%: 8.8% (15th)
- K%: 19.8% (3rd-best)
- Pitching Stats:
- SIERA: 4.16 (15th)
- xFIP: 4.30 (17th)
- BB%: 8.8% (11th-worst)
- K%: 23.9% (8th-best)
More advanced stats and prop bets at Action Network.
The Texas Rangers have never won the World Series. That’s just one of the storylines to follow as the MLB Playoffs continue. The Lone Star State edition of the ALCS has two World Series-winning managers in Bruce Bochy and Dusty Baker. It also has a masterful pitching coach in Mike Maddux, who is in his second stint with the Rangers and also was a pitching coach under Dusty Baker when he managed the Washington Nationals.
Plenty of familiarity of the teams, coaches and staffs. But the Rangers are going to break through and win the ALCS for a chance at their first-ever World Series title.
You can bet on it.
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