Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers Prediction & Betting Tips - MLB

Prediction published on 21/10/2023, 13:53  by Joseph King | Modified on 22/10/2023 at 12:03 in Baseball Predictions

The Houston Astros are one win away from a repeat trip to the World Series when they take on the Texas Rangers for game six of the ALCS. This Lone Star had failed to produce dramatic late finishes until Jose Altuve’s game five heroics. The 33-year-old’s three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning gave the defending champions a 5-4 lead which they would hold onto for a huge win. The victory means that Houston, who lost the first two games on home soil, have responded by winning the next three straight on the road to go up 3-2. They’ll now have two games at Minute Maid Park to advance to a potential World Series rematch against the Phillies, or the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Winning on the road has been nothing new for the Astros this season as they finished with one of baseball’s best away records at 51-30. This has only continued in the playoffs where the defending champs are a perfect 5-0 so far. The 5-4 win in game five means that the ‘Stros have now put up 23 runs while allowing 12 on their current five game winning streak. They’ll start game six with Framber Valdez on the mound. Valdez hasn’t had the best postseason so far and is 0-2 with nine earned runs allowed over a total of just seven innings pitched.

The Rangers will now have to respond with yet another road victory to keep their season alive as they face elimination. Texas should be accustomed to winning at this ballpark, however, as they took the first two games of the season by a combined score of 7-4. The Rangers current three game losing streak is the longest the team has suffered since the middle of September. They were previously perfect in the regular season up to this series after sweeping both the Rays and the Orioles. Texas will go with Nathan Eovaldi who is 3-0 in the playoffs with an ERA of 2.29.