Astros vs Rangers ALCS Odds: Javier Looks to Pitch the Defending Champs Back

Defending World Series Champs Need to Win At Least Twice in Texas to Stay Alive

Will the Texas Rangers ever lose again? Texas erupted for four runs in the first inning and held on for a 5-4 win to take both games in Houston before the series shifts to Arlington. The Astros vs Rangers ALCS odds favor Texas to push the defending World Series champions to the brink of elimination.

An error by pitcher Framber Valdez opened the floodgates for the big first inning as Texas set a franchise record for runs scored in the first inning of a playoff game, according to research from MLB.com’s Sarah Langs.

Yordan Alvarez homered twice and scored three times to make things interesting. When looking at the MLB stats leaders, he leads all players in home runs in this year’s playoffs.

After a day off, Cristian Javier will get the start for Houston, and Max Scherzer going for the Rangers.

The MLB scores and odds have Texas priced at -132 to win Game 3 with the Astros at +122.

The Rangers saw their odds to win the series move from +110 to -480 odds since the series began, with the Astros now priced at +355 in the series odds after opening at -140 in the series odds. The Rangers now have the best odds at +120 to win the World Series, with the Astros priced at +700 in the championship odds.

Now Or Never For Houston

The Houston Astros haven’t been swept in a playoff series since the 2005 World Series.

Since 2017, Houston has won 14 of 18 playoff series and posted a
56-34 record in the postseason during that stretch.

Now Houston goes on the road trailing 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.

If there is a silver lining, Houston has won an MLB-best 53 road games this season, and the roster is full of players like Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, and Game 3 starting pitcher Cristian Javier, who have battled their way through tough spots in the playoffs before. Keep that in mind when looking at the Astros vs Rangers ALCS odds.

The total has gone over in four of the last six games played by Houston.

Mad Max Set to Return

Max Scherzer was acquired from the New York Mets to not only get the Texas Rangers into the playoffs but to be counted on once the postseason began.

There were concerns that Scherzer would not pitch again after leaving a Sept. 12 start due to a shoulder injury. He was shut down for the remainder of the regular season and left off the roster in the first two series for the Rangers.

He not only made the ALCS roster for the Rangers, he is set to pitch in Game 3. That will play a factor in the Astros vs Rangers ALCS odds.

Scherzer is just 1-2 with a 4.61 ERA in five career ALCS starts and 7-7 in his postseason career.

The total has gone under in eight of the last 12 games for the Rangers.

Who’s Hot

• Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros DH: Alvarez is 9-of-23 with six home runs and eight extra-base hits in this year’s playoffs.
• Cristian Javier, Houston Astros P: Javier allowed one hit and no runs with nine strikeouts in five innings in his first postseason start this year.
• Josh Sborz, Texas Rangers P: Sborz hasn’t allowed a hit or a run in 4.1 innings during five appearances in this year’s playoffs.
• Corey Seager, Texas Rangers SS: Seager is 8-of-23 with seven runs, four extra-base hits, and 11 walks in seven postseason games.

Who’s Not

• Brock Burke, Texas Rangers P: In his only 2023 postseason outing, Burke allowed a run, walked a batter, and gave up two runs while retiring only one batter.
• Robbie Grossman, Texas Rangers OF: Grossman is 2-for-16 with eight strikeouts in the 2023 playoffs.
• Hector Neris, Houston Astros P: Neris has allowed three hits, two home runs, and four runs in 3.1 innings in this year’s playoffs.
• Kyle Tucker, Houston Astros OF: Tucker is 2-for-22 with seven strikeouts in the postseason.

Astros vs Rangers Head to Head

The road team won eight of the last 10 meetings between the Astros and Rangers. Houston won both of its road games in this year’s playoffs.

Houston won nine of the 13 games during the regular season, including seven wins in the last eight contests.

Seven of the last nine games between the teams finished over the total.

When looking at the MLB standings, both teams finished the regular season with 90-72 records.

Astros vs Rangers Betting Preview

In a postseason full of surprises, seeing the playoff-tested Astros dropping both games at home to Texas is among the unexpected developments.

Houston has won six straight road games and five in a row on the road against the Rangers.

Besides surrendering five walks, Javier was outstanding in his first postseason start, and the Astros will need more from him.

Houston is 28-16 this season when listed as the underdog, including a 24-12 mark as the underdog on the road. Texas is comfortable in the role of the favorite, with a 65-44 record and a 44-25 record at home.

After a late rally by the Astros came up one run short, the total is set at 9 for Game 3.

There were some alarming recent stats associated with Houston’s Game 2 starter, Framber Valdez, and it was another rough outing with the first five Rangers batters reaching base. Javier is 5-1 with a 1.91 ERA in his MLB  postseason career. It is hard to know what to expect from Scherzer as he returns to the mound or even how many innings he’ll be able to throw.

Don’t be surprised to see the Astros find a way to cut the Texas lead in half.

For MLB betting news, standings, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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