Jordan Montgomery Must Do 'Something Different' for Texas Rangers in ALCS Game 5 Against Houston Astros

The Texas Rangers will start left-hander Jordan Montgomery in Game 5 of the ALCS against Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander.

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers will start left-hander Jordan Montgomery in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Friday.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy confirmed that, saying that he was “good to go” and that it was “his turn” in the rotation. He’ll be pitching on normal rest after starting in Game 1 on Sunday.

The Houston Astros will counter with Justin Verlander, who also started Game 1.

Jordan Montgomery is looking for a second win in the ALCS in Game 5 on Friday / © Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Texas went into Game 4 on Thursday night with a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series with a trip to the World Series on the line.

Montgomery knows he’ll be facing an Astros lineup that will largely resemble what he saw in the series opener. That presents an obvious challenge.

“I’m probably going to have to do something different,” Montgomery said. “I mean, that is such a good team and such a good lineup that it’s hard to get them out the same way.”

Montgomery and the Rangers won 2-0 on Sunday, and the left-hander was masterful in working his way around a dangerous Astros lineup. He claimed his second postseason win and dropped his ERA to 2.08.

Montgomery went 6 1/3 innings, giving up five hits but no runs as he struck out six and walked one. He did some of his most impressive work against Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez, who struck out three times to the left-hander.

Alvarez hit two home runs in Game 2 of the season and was productive at the plate in Game 3 at Globe Life Field, so Montgomery may have to find new ways to attack the left-handed slugger, who typically hits well against left-handed pitching.

It comes down to preparation, Montgomery said.

“We’re working on it,” he said about preparing for Alvarez.

Verlander put together a fine game against the Rangers, even though he took the loss to drop to 1-1 for the postseason with a 1.42 ERA. He went 6 2/3 innings, giving up six hits and two runs. He struck out five and walked two.

He gave up one home run in the game, a solo shot to Rangers No. 9 hitter Leody Taveras in the fifth inning, which gave the Rangers a 2-0 lead. It was Taveras’ first career postseason home run.

Verlander has a 17-12 postseason record with a 3.51 ERA.

2023 ALCS schedule (Texas leads 2-1)

Game 1: Rangers 2, Astros 0

Game 2: Rangers 5, Astros 4

Game 3: Astros 8, Rangers 5

Game 4: Thursday at Arlington, 7:03 p.m. (FS1)

Game 5: Friday at Arlington, 4:07 p.m. (FS1)

Game 6*: Sunday at Houston, 7:03 p.m. (FS1)

Game 7*: Monday at Houston, 7:03 p.m. (Fox/FS1)

*If necessary

Jung Does Job, Rest of Rangers Quiet

You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

Catch up with Inside the Rangers on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram.