We've got a series, folks.
Just when it looked as if the Texas Rangers were going to run away with the ALCS, the Houston Astros fought back with a crucial win in Game 3. Now the reigning champions have a chance to tie the series at two games apiece and sway the momentum back in their favor.
We were on the Astros moneyline in Game 3, and we're going right back to the well in Game 4.
Houston will send out starter Jose Urquidy in what will largely be a bullpen game. That's normally bad news for most teams, but the Astros are more than comfortable rotating pitchers in and out. Houston's bullpen finished the regular season with the second-fewest earned runs in the AL, and it leads MLB with 37 strikeouts in the playoffs.
Rangers starter Andrew Heaney has given up six earned runs over his last 9.2 innings pitched against the Astros, and Texas' bullpen has been one of the worst in the AL all season. The ALCS will be tied after Thursday night.
The Rangers will be rolling with a two-headed pitching approach to start Game 4. Heaney will get the start, but he'll be on a short leash with typical starter Dane Dunning waiting to relieve him at the first sign of trouble.
That trouble might arise sooner than later against an Astros lineup that finished the regular season with the second-highest OPS (.809) and the fifth-highest batting average (.270) against lefties. Heaney pitched well in his first postseason start against the Baltimore Orioles, yet manager Bruce Bochy still pulled him after just 56 pitches and 11 outs because he gave up one run in the fourth. There will be a similar strategy in play for Game 4.
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