Rangers Take 2-1 ALCS Series Lead Into Game 3 vs. Houston Astros on Thursday Night
The Texas Rangers bring their 2-1 ALCS series lead over the Houston Astros into Globe Life Field on Thursday after getting roughed up on Wednesday for the first time in their postseason run.
The offense will be the key once again for a Rangers squad that is 81-35 this season when scoring eight or more hits. On Wednesday night, Texas managed just six and was hitless entering the fourth inning.
Globe Life Field has been kind to the Astros this season with a 10-1 record in the Rangers' home park, and Houston has been a much better road team than at home. The Astros won 90 games this year, and 51 of those came in opposing ballparks.
This will be the 17th time the two teams have met this season, with Houston holding a 10-6 tilt.
Right-hander Jose Urquidy (1-0, 3.18 ERA, 6 SO) will take the mound for Houston, while southpaw Andrew Heaney (0-0, 2.45 ERA, 1 SO) gets the start for Texas.
Rangers right fielder Adolis Garcia ranks third on the club with 68 extra-base hits - 29 doubles and 39 home runs. Texas third baseman Josh Jung is 11-for-37 with three doubles, a triple, three home runs and seven RBIs over the past 10 games for the Rangers.
For the Astros, left fielder Yordan Alvarez is third on the team with 56 extra-base hits, with 24 doubles, one triple and 31 homers, while first baseman Jose Abreu is 11-for-39 with three doubles, four homers and 13 RBIs over the last 10 contests.
First pitch takes place at 8:03 p.m. CT at the home of the Rangers, Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
