ALCS Game 5: Houston Astros at Texas Rangers odds, picks and predictions
The Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers play Game 6 of the best-of-7 American League Championship Series Friday. First pitch from Globe Life Field is scheduled for 5:07 p.m. ET (FS1). Let's analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the Astros vs. Rangersodds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
ALCS: Tied 2-2
The Astros jumped all over Rangers LHP Andrew Heaney for 3 runs in the 1st inning in Thursday's Game 4, and RHP Dane Dunning wasn't much better in relief, either. He allowed 3 ER, 3 H and 3 BB in just 2 2/3 IP, needing 63 pitches to retire 8 batters. When the dust cleared in the top of the 4th, Houston led 7-3, and it never looked back.
The Rangers had won their first 7 playoff games, but suddenly they're in a 2-game skid, while the Astros have wrestled back home-field advantage, with just 3 games left to be played in the ALCS, including 2 in Houston.
The big blows for the Astros in Game 3 came off the bat of 1B Jose Abreu, who swatted a 3-run homer in the 4th inning, and a 2-run homer for insurance by OF Chas McCormick.
Astros at Rangers projected starters
RHP Justin Verlander vs. LHP Jordan Montgomery
Verlander was 13-8 with a 3.22 ERA in 27 regular-season starts with the Mets and Astros. He had a 1.13 WHIP, 2.5 BB/9 and 8.0 K/9 in 162 1/3 innings.
- Last start: Loss, 6 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 5 K in 2-0 home loss vs. Texas Rangers in Game 1 of the ALCS on Sunday
- 2023 road splits: 7-3, 3.20 ERA (76 IP, 27 ER), 6 HR in 13 starts
- Making his 37th career postseason start and 38th overall appearance
Montgomery made 32 starts in the regular season with the Cardinals and Rangers, going 10-11 with a 3.20 ERA. He had a 1.19 WHIP, 2.3 BB/9 and 7.9 K/9 in 188 2/3 innings.
- Last start: Win, 6 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 6 K in 2-0 win vs. Houston Astros in Game 1 of ALCS on Sunday
- 2023 home splits (regular season): 7-5, 3.61 ERA (99 2/3 IP, 40 ER), 10 HR in 17 starts
- Making his 5th career postseason start and 6th overall appearance
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Astros at Rangers odds
FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:11 a.m. ET.
Astros at Rangers picks and predictions
Prediction
Astros 3, Rangers 2
How quickly these have turned in this series. The ASTROS (+100) have not only gotten back into the series, they seemingly have seized command of the series with consecutive road wins to level things 2-2, making this, essentially, a best-of-3 series for a trip to the 2023 World Series.
Houston cannot seem to win at home, but on the road it is unstoppable. The Astros have picked up wins in all 4 postseason games, while going just 1-3 at home. Montgomery outpitched Verlander in a low-scoring Game 1 of this series. Look for the veteran Verlander to return the favor.
Backing the Astros +1.5 (-158) will require you to risk more than 1 1/2 times your potential return, which is too much risk and not enough reward for a little bit of insurance.
Just play Houston straight up. After managing just 4 total runs in the 1st 2 games of the series, the Astros have erupted for 18 runs the past 2 days.
PASS.
The UNDER 9 (-120) is the play despite the fact the total has gone high in each of the past 2 games in Arlington.
Verlander and Montgomery get the nod for their respective sides, and they each started Game 1, which was easily the lowest scoring game of this series. With a lot more on the line, look for the Under to cash again, as runs should once again be at a premium.
