Astros vs. Rangers 2023 MLB ALCS Odds and Preview

By Hank Blaine • October 13, 2023

The 2023 American League Championship Series is a battle between two AL West teams. Defending World Series Champion Houston is the favorite to march to their third straight Fall Classic. But underdog Texas has other plans. Which team is the pick to represent the American League in the 2023

A Closer Look at the 2023 MLB American League Championship Series

2023 MLB American League Championship Series Schedule

Odds to Win the 2023 MLB ALCS

Houston Astros

After a tough start, the Mets blew up their World Series ambitions and traded Justin Verlander back to the Stros. Verlander immediately paid dividends and is one of the reasons the Astros caught the rival Rangers to win the AL West.

Following Verlander in the rotation, Framber Valdez and Christian Javier are both more than capable. The Astros boast a couple of strong set up relievers in Bryan Abreu and Hector Neris. By the time Ryan Pressley, Houston’s closer, gets the ball, the game is out of reach.

Now 36, the great Jose Abreu isn’t as dominant as he used to be when he stepped to the plate for the Chicago White Sox, but he can get it done. Not only that, but we must put things into perspective.

Abreu joined a lineup that already includes Michael Brantley, Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, and Alex Bregman. There isn’t a soft spot throughout the lineup. The Rangers felt the full force of the Stros’ lineup during the regular season when Houston scored 83 runs in 9 wins versus Texas.

Texas Rangers

Like the Astros, the Rangers dipped into the Mets’ fire sale during the season by trading for Max Scherzer. The former Cy Young winner helped Texas make it to the playoffs but remains out of the rotation due to an injury.

No problem. Nathan Eovaldi and Jordan Montgomery have dominated. Eovaldi has allowed 2 earned runs in the postseason in 13.2 innings thrown. Montgomery has allowed 4 earned runs in 11 innings.

Aroldis Chapman remains one of the better closers in the game. If the Rangers’ set up relievers do their job, more often than not, Chapman closes the door on Texas’s opponents.

The Rangers lean on a strong lineup. Texas has a three-headed monster in right fielder Adolis Garcia, short stop Corey Seager, and second baseman Marcus Sieman. During the regular season, Sieman led the team with 185 hits. Seager had the best batting average, .327, and top on-base percentage at .390. Garcia hit 39 home runs and drove in 107 runs.

Texas is strong throughout the lineup. So the Stros won’t be able to pitch around anybody.

Astros vs. Rangers 2023 MLB American League Championship Series Analysis

The Astros and Ranger know each other well, which is why the fact Texas has yet to lose a game in the playoffs won’t affect our analysis. What does affect our analysis is the fact Houston won the regular season series 9-4.

Another reason to like the Stros? Eovaldi and Montgomery have thrown great, but both shouldn’t last for an entire 7-game series.

The Astros head into this series with their top three starters pitching fire. The bats are also en fuego and this what Houston does, win the ALCS and make it to the World Series. Houston in 6 is the prediction.

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*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.