Houston Astros' Right-Hander Does Something Never Done Before in the Playoffs in Game 3 Win

Houston Astros starting pitcher Cristian Javier flirted with danger but ended making history in his ALDS Game 3 win over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday afternoon.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Cristian Javier flirted with danger but still ended up making baseball history in an ALDS Game 3 win over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday afternoon.

Javier went 5.0 innings, surrendering one hit and walking five in the 9-1 Astros win, which gives them a 2-1 series lead in the best-of-five series.

The 'Stros are now just win away from a return trip to the American League Championship Series.

Javier struck out nine Twins' batters in the win and continues his mastery in the playoffs.

Per @OptaSTATS on social media:

Cristian Javier of the @astros has now allowed 1 hit or fewer in each of his first 3 career postseason starts. 

No other pitcher in MLB history has had 3 such starts over his entire postseason career (consecutive or not).

Cristian Javier of the @astros has now allowed 1 hit or fewer in each of his first 3 career postseason starts.

No other pitcher in MLB history has had 3 such starts over his entire postseason career (consecutive or not). pic.twitter.com/fFEfXD0g9N

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) October 10, 2023

In 15 career appearances in the playoffs, Javier has a 1.91 ERA. He's 5-1 overall and has struck out 57 batters in 37.2 innings. 

This year in the regular season, he went 10-5 with a 4.56 ERA in 31 games. He threw 162.0 innings and was a big part of keeping the Astros' rotation together, a rotation that lost both Lance McCullers and Luis Garcia to season-ending injuries.

Lifetime, the 26-year-old is 30-17 in 109 games. He owns a 3.57 ERA.

Game 4 of the ALDS is set for 7:07 p.m. ET on Wednesday night.

Right-hander Jose Urquidy (HOU) gets the ball against Joe Ryan (MIN).

Urquidy went 3-3 this season with a 5.29 ERA while Ryan went 11-10 with a 4.51.

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