2023 ALCS Game Two — Rangers, Astros Pregame Manager Notes
HOUSTON, Oct. 16 — The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros are facing one another Monday afternoon in Game Two of the ALCS, with the Rangers holding a 1–0 series lead. Prior to the game, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy and Astros manager Dusty Baker met with the media. Here are the highlights.
Rangers Manager Bruce Bochy
- Max Scherzer will start Game Three. He’ll most likely throw at least 70 pitches, since he threw 69 in a sim game in Arlington a few days ago.
- Evan Carter, despite his performance in Game One, is not starting Game Two. Robbie Grossman will start in left field instead. Bochy said there were two reasons. One is Grossman’s numbers against left-handed pitching. The other is that Carter simply has not had many big-league at-bats against lefties, 15 according to Bochy’s recollection. Bochy said Astros starter Framber Valdez is “a tough left-hander” who gets a lot of strikeouts. Carter, however, will “be involved at some point.”
- Eight of the thirteen Ranger pitchers on the LCS roster started at least eight games this season. Bochy said the biggest advantage of having so many starters on the roster is that they can go multiple innings. Consequently, the team won’t overuse anyone, since they’ll have “coverage left and right” with the long men as well as the short relievers.
Astros Manager Dusty Baker
- The Astros have not decided on a Game Three or Game Four starter yet, although they’ve talked about it. Baker said they’ll discuss it after Game Two.
- Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez have traded spots in the batting order for Game Two. Tucker will bat third, and Alvarez will bat fourth. Baker did this because both have been struggling recently, Tucker for “a while” and Alvarez in Game One. He hopes this will “get them going today.”
- Yordan Alvarez had a virus Sunday and missed player introductions. He’s in the lineup “because his name is Yordan.” Baker added about the reports of Alvarez having a virus, “I got a virus, everybody’s got a virus. So he’s fine. He’s better today than he was yesterday.”
- As a follow-up, Baker was asked if he or Alvarez is sick. Baker said, “No. My allergies are bothering me, yeah. I mean, what is sick? I’m serious — I’m not being a smarty.
“(Alvarez) is fine. He’s better today than he was yesterday. And like I was telling somebody yesterday, as a responsible man, a family man, you go to work, you know? I never saw my dad in the bed ever sick, and I’m sure he was sick. And sometimes as a man you just go to work.”
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