Texas Rangers Set Game 2 ALCS Starter Vs. Houston Astros' Framber Valdez

The Texas Rangers are throwing their best right-hander, Nathan Eovaldi, to face Houston Astros left-hander Framber Valdez in Game 2 of the ALCS.

The Texas Rangers will send right-hander Nathan Eovaldi to the mound for Game 2 of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros at 3:30 p.m. Monday at Minute Maid Park.

The Astros counter with left-hander Framber Valdez. Neither decision is a surprise. Eovaldi will pitch on an extra day of rest and Valdez started Game 2 of the AL Division Series against the Minnesota Twins.

Eovaldi, an Alvin, Texas, native — which is where Rangers and Astros legend Nolan Ryan grew up — will make his third postseason start. He is already 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA in two postseason starts, as he struck out 15 and walked none in 13.2 postseason innings. He started both Rangers' playoff series-clinching games against the Tampa Bay Rays in the Wild Card and Tuesday against the Baltimore Orioles in the ALDS.

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Eovaldi is one of the game’s top active postseason pitchers, as he is 6-3 with a 2.70 ERA, with 56 strikeouts and eight walks. That includes helping the Boston Red Sox to a World Series title in 2018.

Eovaldi has faced the Astros twice this season, but not at Minute Maid Park. Both starts were at Globe Life Field and went dramatically different.

At Globe Life Field on July 1, Eovaldi threw seven shutout innings and gave up just two hits, as he struck out five and walked four, winning his 10th game of the regular season.

His next start against Houston was on Sept. 5, and it was his first after more than a month on the injured list with a right forearm strain.

He absorbed the loss and went only 1.1 innings, allowing four runs on five hits and a walk. He had one strikeout and threw 35 pitches.

Valdez is also one of the league's top current postseason pitchers, as he will make his 13th postseason start and 14th appearance on Monday. In the playoffs, he's 7-3 with a 3.82 ERA, all with the Astros and all since the 2020 postseason.

He is coming off a loss in Game 2 of the AL Division Series against the Twins. He threw 4.1 innings, giving up seven hits, five earned runs, and a home run. He struck out five and walked three.

Valdez went 12-11 with a 3.45 ERA in the regular season and faced the Rangers three times, going 1-2. He lost his two starts at Minute Maid Park, where he gave up 11 runs (only seven were earned). His lone start at Globe Life Field on Sept. 5 was a win, as he gave up six hits and one run in seven innings as he took the win. He struck out four and walked four.

2023 ALCS schedule

Game 1: Sunday: Texas at Houston, 7:15 p.m. (Fox)

Game 2: Monday: Texas at Houston, 3:37 p.m. (Fox or FS1)

Game 3: Wednesday: Houston at Texas, 7:03 p.m. (FS1)

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

Game 5*: Friday: Houston at Texas, 4:07 p.m. (FS1)

Game 6*: Sunday, Oct. 22: Texas at Houston, 7:03 p.m. (FS1)

Game 7*: Monday, Oct. 23: Texas at Houston, 7:03 p.m. (Fox/FS1)

*If necessary

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You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

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