Houston Astros at Texas Rangers: ALCS Game 3 (TEX leads, 2-0)
RHP Cristian Javier (1-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Max Scherzer (1st outing)
ALCS G3 • Wed., Oct. 18, 2023 • Globe Life Field • 7:03 p.m. (CDT) • FS1 / 105.3 FM / 1270 AM
Former Met Max Scherzer will take the mound on Wednesday night for the Texas Rangers in his first start since September 12. The 39-year-old has been dealing with a teres major strain in his right shoulder. Scherzer had a 3.20 ERA in eight starts after the Rangers sent top 100 prospect Luisangel Acuña to the Mets in late July for the future Hall of Famer.
Scherzer will make his 23rd career postseason start tonight, which will tie John Lackey and CC Sabathia for 8th-most in MLB history. Scherzer (age 39 years, 83 days) will be the oldest Ranger ever to make a postseason start and has easily the most postseason starts of any pitcher to start for Texas in a playoff game.
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The Rangers entered the night with a 2-0 series lead behind strong starting pitching by Jordan Montgomery and Nathan Eovaldi and a home run each from Leody Taveras (Game 1) and Jonah Heim (Game 2). José Leclerc has closed out both games to get his second and third saves of of the 2023 postseason.
According to MLB’s Sarah Langs, Leclerc is the first pitcher in MLB history to finish each of his team’s first seven games of a postseason.
