Every single pitch matters! The Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros ended their regular seasons with matching 90-72 records. The Astros whipped the Rangers nine out of 13 games in the 2023 regular season. Now, they will duel again for a chance at becoming World Series champions. The AL West Division 2023 series of Astros vs. Rangers is ticking up to be a riveting rivalry between the two Texas teams.
The Rangers meet up with the Houston Astros between October 15 and October 18 for games 1-3 in the AL West playoffs, and the “if necessary” games follow for a chance at the World Series title. As defending World Series Champions, the Houston Astros are coming up against a fireball of a rival Texas team, the Texas Rangers, for the second time, but in the 2023 MLB postseason.
Major League Baseball
The MLB is a historic professional sports league, representing 30 member clubs in the U.S. and Canada. Based on the regular season and how the stats of the playoffs line out so far, you can make your own predictions. These are just a few facts.
The Astro’s cast of players include Justin Verlander, with the lineup revolving around Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, and Yordan Alvarez, plus Ryan Pressly holding onto a potent bullpen. Other players looking good for the Astros are Bryan Albreu, also in the bullpen, Framber Valdez in rotation, and with Jeremy Peña fielding.
With the Rangers coming onto the field with Corey Seager, who signed a 10-year-$325 million contract and boasted “I’m a pretty meticulous guy”, it is time for Seager to show his might at the bat. Seager hit a 445-foot drive into the right-field seats, and Adois García’s three-run homer set the stage for a win over the Orioles in the playoffs.
Corey Seager certainly made his $300+ million contract an investment when he hit his 445-foot homer, breaking Barry Bonds’ Division Series record for the most walks in a Division Series.. This gave the Rangers a 6-0 lead in the third matchup.
As of October 12, midseason starting pitcher acquisition, Max Scherzer, is not expected to return postseason. The Rangers vs. Blue Jays saw the Rangers taking a 6-3 win, and Scherzer exiting the regular season with a strained teres major muscle on September 13. Ranger’s starters Jordan Montgomery and Nathan Eovaldi add to the glitter that is the 2023 playoffs between the two Texas teams.
Texas Rangers Team Records
From 1961 to 1971, the Texas Rangers were known as the Washington Senators. Prior to 1961, the first Washington Senators’ team played in the National League from 1882 to 1899, and after 1899, the National League contracted the Senators.
After the 1899 season, the Senators were one of four teams contracted by the National League. In 1901, with the creation of the American League, the Senators played in the American League until the end of their 1960 season. In 1972 the Senators moved to Texas and rebranded as the Texas Rangers.
The Texas Rangers last made the playoff season in 2011, when they lost the World Series. The Rangers last entered the World Series in 2010 and 2011, but lost both times to the Giants and the Cardinals, respectively. The Rangers have entered the MLB postseason with seven after-division wins in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2010, 2011, 2015, and 2016 and as a wild card team in 2012 and 2023.
Houston Astros Team Records
The Astros played in the National League from 1962 to the end of the 2012 season. In 2013, the Astros moved to the American League. The Astros won the World Series last year, 2022, and before in 2017. The Astros history spans 61 seasons with the MLB. 2023 marks the 17th year the Astros qualified for the playoffs. They reached the World Series in 2005, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022.
It Is What it Is for Two Texas Pro Baseball Teams
Alas, it will be only one of the two Texas teams to hit their way to the next round. The last two weeks of October sure look forward to some baseball highlights and maybe new record settings. A bet is on the table between elected officials of Arlington and Houston.
As of October 13, Arlington Mayor Jim Ross challenged Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner to a friendly bet. Mayor Turner wrote in a post on X, “The losing Mayor would wear the winning team’s jersey”. As this wager appeared weak to Mayor Turner, both mayors are looking to up the postseason ante.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo are also in the mix, agreeing to wear the opposing club’s jersey and make a donation to the franchise’s in-house charity should their team lose. The mayors and judges are throwing out friendly banters about which Texas MLB will make it to the next AL West series.
Courtesy of the 2023 MLB Advanced Media, LP:
MLB League Championship Series times announced, Oct. 12, 2:04 p.m. CDT
All games telecast on TBS, FOX and FS1 will be available to MLB.TV subscribers who are authenticated subscribers to the applicable network through a participating pay TV provider. ESPN Radio will provide live national coverage of all 2023 MLB Postseason games. In addition to its extensive studio coverage, MLB Network will exclusively air the entire 2023 National League Division Series in Spanish-language this Postseason.
Author: Kendall Davis
Author: Kendall Davis Company: Lumini Services Kendall currently lives on the shores of Lake Texoma in Texas. She traveled across two-thirds of the U.S. for many years camping at lakes, rivers, and three oceans before motels and hotels if at all possible, and she continuously saw God's presence in nature. Writing for Lakehub allows Kendall to share her experience with God's creations. https://kdavis1836.wixsite.com/luminiwrites
