Rangers’ Rehabbing Max Scherzer Among Players To Watch In ALCS

It will be a Lone Star Showdown in the American League Championship Series when the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers meet.

The best-of-seven series begins Sunday night at Minute Maid Park in Houston with Justin Verlander starting for the Astros against left-hander Jordan Montgomery. The Astros will continue their attempt to become the first repeat World Series champion since the New York Yankees won three in a row from 1998-2000.

The Astros are making their seventh consecutive ALCS appearance and the Rangers are in this round for the first time since 2012. Houston defeated the Minnesota Twins in four games in an AL Division Series while Texas is 5-0 in the postseason after sweeping two games from the Tampa Bay Rays in a Wild Card Series and three from the Baltimore Orioles in an LDS.

Both AL West rivals went 90-72 in the regular season, but the Astros won the division title as they took the season series from the Rangers 9-4.

Here are four players to watch in the ALCS:

MAX SCHERZER, RANGERS

The three-time Cy Young Award winner is likely to return for the ALCS after not pitching since Sept. 12 because of a strained muscle in his shoulder. The right-hander pronounced himself “ready to go” Friday after a bullpen session and taking part in fielding drills.

The Rangers acquired Scherzer on July 30 in a trade as part of the New York Mets’ deadline sellout. The 39-year-old then went 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA in eight starts before being injured.

Scherzer will be back with the Rangers next season as he exercised his $43.33-million contract as part of the trade that sent top prospect Luisangel Acuna, brother of Atlanta Braves star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr., to the Mets. New York will pay $30.83 million of Scherzer’s salary.

COREY SEAGER, RANGERS

The Rangers signed Seager to a 10-year, $325-million free agent contract after losing 102 games in 2021. The shortstop bought into the team’s vision of eventually becoming contenders and that is exactly what happened in his third season in Arlington.

Despite being limited to 119 games in the regular season this year, Seager had an MVP-caliber showing. He hit .327/.390/.623 – losing out on the AL batting title during the final day of the season – with a league-best 42 doubles and 33 home runs.

Opponents clearly are working around Seager whenever possible in October as he has walked 11 times in 25 postseason plate appearances. He is 6 for 14 (.429) with three doubles and a home run during the few times he has been pitched to.

JOSE ABREU, ASTROS

The Astros signed Abreu to a three-year, $58.5-million contract as a free agent last winter. That came after the first baseman won the 2020 AL MVP, appeared in three All-Star Games and won three Silver Sluggers during the first nine seasons of his career with the Chicago White Sox.

However, Abreu struggled to adjust to his new surroundings for a large part of the season. The 36-year-old batted just .237/.296/.383 with 18 home runs in 141 games.

The postseason has been a different story so far. Abreu went 5 for 16 (.313) with three homers and eight RBIs in four games against the Twins in the LDS round.

FRAMBER VALDEZ, ASTROS

The 29-year-old left-hander had another fine season for the Astros, going 12-11 with a 3.45 in 31 starts while throwing an AL-best two shutouts and will get the start in Game 2 of the ALCS. Over the last four years, Valdez has a 45-26 record with a 3.19 ERA in 95 games, all but one as a starter.

The highlight of Valdez’s season came on Aug. 1 when he pitched a no-hitter against the Cleveland Guardians in Houston. Valdez struggled against the Twins in the ALDS, though, as he was tagged for five runs in 4 1/3 innings in a Game 2 loss.

However, Valdez has a track record of postseason success, going 7-3 with a 3.82 ERA in 14 games, including 13 starts, while striking out 80 batters in 73 innings.