Texas Rangers, Houston Astros ALCS Matchup Ratings Monster for FOX

The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros drew the best LCS viewing numbers for a Game 1 in nearly a decade on Sunday on FOX.

Everything is bigger in Texas, including TV ratings.

The Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros posted the best viewing numbers for a Game 1 of a league championship series since 2015 in ALCS opener on Sunday.

The Rangers won 2-0 and have a 2-0 lead in the series as they prepare for Game 3 of the ALCS at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Wednesday.

⚾️ Everything is bigger in Texas! ⚾️

ALCS Game 1 draws highest Game 1 viewership since 2010 and best Game 1 numbers for any LCS since 2015 📈 pic.twitter.com/gVFDu75VTM

— FOX Sports PR (@FOXSportsPR) October 17, 2023

Sunday’s Game 1 — the first postseason game between the Rangers and Astros in their respective histories — drew 7,226,000 viewers across all FOX platforms, including its linear network, FOX Deportes and its streaming service. On FOX it averaged 7,024,000 viewers.

Those were the best numbers for a Game 1 in a league championship series since Game 1 of the NLCS in 2015 between the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets, which brought in 7,891,000 viewers.

In the American League, it was the best-viewed Game 1 of that league’s championship since 2010, when the Rangers and New York Yankees drew 8,111,000 viewers.

Sunday’s viewing number was up 28 percent on last year’s ALCS Game 1 between Houston and York Yankees (5,492,000).

Of the top five available markets in terms of rating and marker share, four were in Texas: Houston (18.0/45), Dallas-Fort Worth (14.8/37), Austin (10.0/28), San Antonio (9.3/25) and Detroit (5.9/15).

The game was also the most-viewed LCS Game 1 in Spanish language on Fox Deportes, where it drew 242,000.

2023 ALCS schedule (Texas leads 2-0)

Game 1: Texas 2, Houston 0

Game 2: Texas 5, Houston 4

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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