The Houston Astros look to tie the ALCS at 2-2 against the Texas Rangers in Game 4 in Arlington. First pitch is set for 7:03 p.m., and will be broadcast on FS1. Follow along with our staff for game updates and analysis:
This game is tied 3-3 after Corey Seager’s one-out solo homer into the Astros’ bullpen in left-center off José Urquidy. — Greg Rajan
1-2-3 in third
The Astros go down in order for the first time in the third inning, giving Rangers reliever Dane Dunning a much-needed quick inning after running up his pitch count previously. — Greg Rajan
Stanek up
Dusty Baker had Ryne Stanek warming in the second inning with José Urquidy in trouble. Urquidy finished the inning with a 3-2 lead but his leash tonight may be short. Stanek sat back down before the top of the third. — Matt Kawahara
A little closer
Josh Jung hits a sacrifice fly for the second out of the second inning, scoring Mitch Garver to cut the Astros’ lead to 3-2. José Urquidy then strikes out Leody Taveras to end the inning with Houston still ahead. — Greg Rajan
Texas threatening
Trailing 3-1, the Rangers have a threat going against José Urquidy in the second inning. One out after a walk to Mitch Garver, Nathaniel Lowe dropped a double inside the left-field line to put runners on second and third with one out. — Greg Rajan
Texas’ arms situation
Dane Dunning, who replaced Andrew Heaney in the first inning, has used 37 pitches to record four outs. Texas could be in a tough spot with its bullpen if Dunning cannot be more efficient. The Rangers used five relievers last night after Max Scherzer lasted four innings, including both Martín Pérez and Jon Gray. Dunning is their main length option tonight. — Matt Kawahara
Rangers on the board
In his seven career postseason starts prior to tonight, José Urquidy allowed an average of 1.14 home runs per start. He allowed two home runs, both solo shots, across 5 2/3 innings in his ALDS Game 4 start against the Twins earlier this postseason. Tonight, Adolis García led off the second inning with a solo homer off Urquidy and cut the Astros’ lead to 3-1. — Danielle Lerner
Making them work
Astros hitters are getting ahead in counts and putting pressure on the Rangers. However, the Astros stranded two runners in the second inning and failed to score even after two big moments on the basepaths: Jose Altuve was ruled safe on a pickoff attempt at first base, and Yordan Alvarez hustled for a single to deny the Rangers an inning-ending double play. But Jose Abreu grounded into a fielder’s choice right after to end it.
Through two innings, the Astros have sent 14 batters to the plate and seen two 0-2 counts. Both belonged to Jose Altuve, who singled and doubled in his first two at-bats. — Danielle Lerner
Threat fizzles
The Astros put two runners on in the second inning with one out, but couldn’t score. It’s still 3-0 Houston. Reliever Dane Dunning has already thrown 37 pitches after coming in with two outs in the first inning. — Greg Rajan
One done
In an auspicious beginning for the Astros, José Urquidy retires the side in the first inning on 14 pitches. — Greg Rajan
Opportunities galore
Martín Maldonado’s spot has come up with the bases loaded in all four games in this series.
Game 1: fourth inning, strikeout.
Game 2: fifth inning, Astros pinch-hit Yainer Diaz, strikeout.
Game 3: second inning, two-run single.
Game 4: first inning, strikeout. — Matt Kawahara
Could’ve been worse
Dane Dunning minimized the damage for the Rangers in the first inning, leaving the bases loaded after striking Martín Maldonado on a full count. Astros will hand a 3-0 lead to José Urquidy. — Greg Rajan
Altuve watch
On the same play, Jose Altuve moved up on one postseason list and moved down on another. In scoring on Alex Bregman’s two-run triple in the top of the first, Altuve tied Bernie Williams for second place with 83 career postseason runs, trailing only Derek Jeter’s 111. The two RBIs gave Bregman 52 for his postseason career, moving him past Altuve (at least for now) for eighth place all-time. — Steve Schaeffer
Heaney gets hook
Rangers starter Andrew Heaney is out of the game after throwing 22 pitches to seven batters. Five of them reached base. This has echoes of Framber Valdez’s disastrous first inning in Game 2, but this time the Astros are on the opposite side of things.
Dane Dunning will take over on the mound for Texas. — Danielle Lerner
Big names deliver
The Astros’ stars have shined in the first inning. Jose Altuve ignited things with a leadoff double, Alex Bregman thumped a two-run triple and scored on Yordan Alvarez’s RBI single that made it 3-0. — Greg Rajan
Off and running
That was fast. The Astros lead 3-0 four batters into this game. Andrew Heaney has thrown 10 pitches. Each of Houston’s first four batters struck hits. Texas’ bullpen is already active. — Matt Kawahara
Stars in the crowd
Houston rapper Travis Scott, who had a concert in Dallas on Wednesday night, is back for his second straight game of the series. Houston Texans Ring of Honor member Andre Johnson also is here, wearing an Astros jersey with his name on the back. — Matt Young
Cue the band
The roof is opening accompanied by “Also Sprach Zarathustra.” It is not a fast process, so other music will be required. — Matt Kawahara
1-2 combo
A note on the Astros’ batting order: This is just the fifth game that Jose Altuve and Mauricio Dubón have batted first and second, respectively, in Houston’s starting lineup. The Astros won three of those four previous games, the most recent being a 12-11 win over the Rangers on July 3 at Globe Life Field.
Dubón, for what it’s worth, has hit 4-for-18 with one RBI, four runs scored, no walks and three strikeouts when he starts and bats second behind Altuve. Including as a pinch hitter, Dubón is 5-for-20 overall this season as the Astros’ No. 2 hitter. — Danielle Lerner
Darren Baker supporting his pops
Darren Baker, the 24-year-old minor league utility player in the Washington Nationals organization, has been in the Astros dugout with his dad Dusty Baker before the past two games here in Arlington. Of course, as a 3-year-old batboy for his dad’s Giants team, he made his presence felt when he nearly got run over at home plate during the 2002 World Series.
“He’s been a part of playoffs and the World Series since he was three years old, so he feels that this is kind of where he belongs,” Dusty said. “He’s here to support me and support the team. He’s always felt as a kid that he was a good luck charm. And so he’s been pretty good.” — Matt Young
Map disrespect
A map of Texas greets fans as they enter the Rangers’ Globe Life Field. The map lists more than 60 Texas cities and towns, but omits Houston entirely. Well played, Arlington. — Matt Young
At home in Arlington
To say the Astros offense has thrived at Globe Life Field this season is an understatement. Houston has averaged 8.9 runs and 12.1 hits in eight games at the Rangers’ ballpark this year, including ALCS Game 3 on Wednesday. In eight games against the Rangers at home, including ALCS Games 1 and 2, the Astros have averaged 4.3 runs and 5.3 hits.
“Seems like we make more mistakes here, to be honest,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Thursday of the discrepancy. “That’s what I see. Going back and going through the games, we’re just not quite executing as well. You go to the earlier series in September (in Arlington), we made a ton of mistakes.
“They’re a good club. They’re a really good hitting club, and they’re going to take advantage of that. So I think we just have to do a little better job on our execution of pitches.” — Matt Kawahara
Baker’s mentor up for Hall
The man who helped inspire Dusty Baker to return to the Astros after winning the World Series last year is up for the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The Contemporary Baseball Era Managers/Executives/Umpires ballot for the 2024 induction class was announced Thursday and includes Cito Gaston, the former Blue Jays manager who led Toronto to back-to-back World Series championships in 1992-93. He was the first Black manager to win the World Series.
Before managing, Gaston played 11 major league seasons. He was a teammate of Baker’s with the Braves, both in Atlanta and with their Class AA affiliate in Austin. Baker has described Gaston as a key mentor.
“He really helped me, him and Ralph Garr, on how to deal with being in the South, a young kid from California in the ’60s,” Baker said. “He took me with him everywhere.”
“And so we talk quite often. Which is one reason I came back, because I said I wanted to do the Cito Gaston, which means you went back-to-back. And that’s probably one of the main reasons I came back, was because of Cito.” — Greg Rajan
Historic game for Altuve
No open and shut case
After MLB announced that the roof at Globe Life Field would be open for Game 4 Astros manager Dusty Baker said he was under the impression that roofs would remain closed at both team’s ballparks for the entirety of the series.
“We were told that there was an agreement we wouldn’t have the roof open in either place,” he said. “So I don’t know what changed.”
Baker did say that he was glad the Astros got a chance to work out at Globe Life Field with the roof open prior to Game 3. — Danielle Lerner
Andrew Heaney’s short leash
Andrew Heaney, the Rangers’ Game 4 starter, hasn’t thrown five innings in a game since August. In his lone postseason outing this year, he went 3 2/3 and allowed one run in a win over the Orioles. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy expects similar length from his starter Thursday. “He’s good to go 75, 80 pitches, in that area, but we’ll keep an eye on him,” Bochy said. “We have him covered in the bullpen.” — Matt Young
Michael Brantley sits
Mauricio Dubón, who had three hits in Game 3, moves up to the second spot in the Astros’ lineup for Game 4 against Andrew Heaney. Kyle Tucker remains in the sixth spot. Michael Brantley is not in the lineup against the lefthander Heaney, with Chas McCormick starting in left field. — Matt Kawahara
Here’s the full Astros lineup for Game 4:
Jose Altuve, 2B
Mauricio Dubón, CF
Alex Bregman, 3B
Yordan Alvarez, DH
José Abreu, 1B
Kyle Tucker, RF
Chas McCormick, LF
Jeremy Peña, SS
Martín Maldonado, C
José Urquidy, RHP
No concerns about open roof
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy agreed.
“I don’t see it being any different,” Bochy said. “It’s going to be a beautiful night. It’s a beautiful ballpark with the roof open… But, no, it’s not going to make a difference.” — Matt Young
Rangers lineup
The Rangers’ lineup for Game 4 has the same makeup as their Game 3 order. José Urquidy did not face Texas during the regular season but a number of Rangers hitters have experience against him. Marcus Semien is 7-for-18 against Urquidy with two home runs. Adolis García (2-for-11), Leody Taveras (0-for-10) and Nathaniel Lowe (2-for-9) are the other Rangers with double-digit plate appearances against the Astros righthander. — Matt Kawahara
The full Rangers lineup for Game 4:
Marcus Semien, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Evan Carter, LF
Adolis García, RF
Mitch Garver, DH
Jonah Heim, C
Nathaniel Lowe, 1B
Josh Jung, 3B
Leody Taveras, CF
Andrew Heaney, LHP
Roof open
Game 3 coverage
‘This team doesn’t quit.’ Astros take Game 3 of ALCS over Rangers
Astros insider: Martín Maldonado lights a fire for offense with breakthrough hit
Mauricio Dubón, ‘the ultimate teammate,’ gets a start and three big hits
Solomon: As road warriors, Astros live the good life at Globe Life
Cold-blooded Cristian Javier uses nasty fastball to baffle Rangers
Michael Brantley delivers another memorable
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Game 1: Rangers 2, Astros 0
Game 2: Rangers 5, Astros 4
Game 3: Astros 8, Rangers 5
Daniel Miller is a sports fanatic who lives and breathes athletics. His coverage spans from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis for sports enthusiasts.
