ALCS Game 1 live updates

Rangers starter Jordan Montgomery works a 1-2-3 first inning, albeit with two deep fly outs by Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman. — Greg Rajan

JV’s twin killings

Justin Verlander has induced three double plays this postseason after totaling eight double plays during his 27 regular-season starts, including two in his 11 starts for the Astros after being traded from New York at the deadline. — Danielle Lerner

Down in order

Marcus Semien lined Justin Verlander’s first pitch of the game, a fastball, just foul down the left-field line. Verlander didn’t throw another fastball in a seven-pitch first inning. Semien grounded out on a slider, Corey Seager singled on a curveball and Mitch Garver’s check-swing on a slider produced a comeback tapper that Verlander fielded to start a 1-4-3 double play. — Matt Kawahara

Pregame festivities

Astros Hall of Famer Craig Biggio threw out the first pitch and rapper Paul Wall and Alief comedian Mo Amer called, “Play Ball!” before Game 1. Paul Wall clearly has heard everyone talking about his gray hair and new hairstyle, because the back of his Astros jersey read “New Haircut.” — Matt Young

He’s here

According to a well-placed source, Sen. Ted Cruz is at Minute Maid Park and not in Cancun. — Danielle Lerner

Making the walk

José Urquidy, J.P. France and Hunter Brown all walked to the bullpen with the Astros relievers before Game 1. Urquidy may be available in relief in an emergency, but the Astros have several long reliever options with Ronel Blanco also added to the bullpen for the ALCS. Houston has not set a rotation past Game 2. Cristian Javier threw a bullpen session this afternoon so he is likely on track to start Game 3. — Matt Kawahara

Rangers vs. Verlander

Just after 6:30 p.m., Justin Verlander emerged from the Astros’ dugout and began his deliberate walk to the right-field corner at Minute Maid Park to begin his warmups. Verlander will make his 36th career postseason start tonight and his 14th start in Game 1 of a playoff series. Here are the career numbers of tonight’s Rangers lineup against the future Hall of Famer, regular season and playoffs combined: 

Semien: 14-for-43, 2 HR, 9 K
Seager: 5-for-20, 1 HR, 5 K
Garver: 1-for-11, 7 K
García: 2-for-8, 3 K
Carter: n/a
Heim: 0-for-6, 2 K
Lowe: 4-for-11, 3 K
Jung: n/a
Taveras: 1-for-4

—Matt Kawahara

Martín Maldonado’s new ‘do

Martín Maldonado showed up to the ballpark today with orange hair… shockingly bright orange. The Astros catcher dyed his hair a different color before each playoff series last season and the team went on to win a World Series. He appears to be trying to replicate that strategy after sporting bleached-blond hair against the Twins last week. — Matt Young

Jedi nights

Chris Smith admits a Jedi robe is more suited for the postseason.

“It was designed for October baseball,” Smith said.

Well, technically, Smith’s wife, Nicole, designed it for July’s Star Wars night at the ballpark.

“I mean why not,” Nicole Smith said.

You can’t just buy a Houston Jedi robe off the shelf, so she used a pattern and some fabric to make her own. So far, it’s the only one.

Nobody panic about starting a hex. They won on Star Wars night, too. — Dug Begley

Max Scherzer available

Max Scherzer could be available out of the bullpen for the Rangers tonight in an emergency situation, manager Bruce Bochy said. But the Rangers are eyeing Scherzer for a start in the series, likely in either Game 3 or 4. Bochy said Scherzer would be an option tonight in case of: “Extra innings or something. It’s all hands on deck when you get in this situation. Sure, we’d like to stay away from him. But trust me, he’ll have his spikes on.” —Matt Kawahara

The dislike factor

Rangers reliever Will Smith, who spent three months with the Astros last season and won a World Series ring, was asked how high the “dislike factor” is between the Astros and Rangers.

“I mean, it is what it is,” Smith said.

When asked to expound on the rivalry, Smith went a little further, adding, “There’s no secrets between us. We’re three hours from each other. They’ve owned this division for a while now. So, yeah, we obviously want to come in and not be the little brother anymore.”  — Matt Young

José Abreu batting fourth

José Abreu started just two of the Astros’ final 60 games in the cleanup spot. But the first baseman is there for Game 1 of the ALCS against the Rangers. Dusty Baker said he wanted Abreu, the righthanded hitter, between Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker with Texas starting lefty Jordan Montgomery and having several lefthanded options in its bullpen. It helps that Abreu had a strong ALDS, hitting three home runs over the final two games against the Twins. — Matt Kawahara

The full Astros lineup:
Jose Altuve, 2B 
Alex Bregman, 3B
Yordan Alvarez, DH
José Abreu, 1B
Kyle Tucker, RF
Chas McCormick, LF
Mauricio Dubón, CF
Jeremy Peña, SS
Martín Maldonado, C
Justin Verlander. RHP

Kyle Tucker credits big brother

Much has been made of how well Astros’ lefthanded hitters Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker hit lefthanded pitching. Kyle Tucker credits some of it to growing up playing wiffle ball with his older brother, former Astros outfielder Preston Tucker, who also is lefthanded.

“Just him being a lefty, he has pitched and I hit, and I think that played into it a little bit,” Kyle Tucker said before Sunday’s Game 1 of the ALCS. “But I never care whether I’m facing a lefty or righty in the box; I just go out and compete and try to do my best and see what happens. I don’t think there’s any like one secret to success, but I think that’s probably something that’s definitely helped me.” — Matt Young

Ronel Blanco addition explained

Astros general manager Dana Brown said that the team opted to add a 13th pitcher, reliever Ronel Blanco, to its ALCS roster for both length and flexibility out of the bullpen in the best-of-seven series. Brown also said that reliever Kendall Graveman, who was left off the ALCS roster while dealing with a shoulder injury, could be available later if the Astros advance. — Danielle Lerner

Rangers lineup

The Rangers will start five lefthanded or switch-hitters in Game 1 of the ALCS against Justin Verlander. Texas is sticking with the lineup it used in the final two games of the ALDS despite Verlander’s reverse splits during the regular season. Verlander held lefthanded hitters to a .584 OPS; righthanders owned a .708 OPS against him. — Matt Kawahara

The full Rangers lineup for Game 1:
Marcus Semien, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Mitch Garver, DH
Adolis García, RF
Evan Carter, LF
Jonah Heim, C
Nathaniel Lowe, 1B
Josh Jung, 3B
Leody Taveras, CF
Jordan Montgomery. LHP

Roof closed

The roof at Minute Maid Park will be closed for Game 1 of the ALCS tonight, the Astros announced. The roof was closed for Game 1 of the ALDS against the Twins but open for Game 2. It was open for a game only once during the regular season, on May 2 against the Giants. — Matt Kawahara

Rangers roster set

Pitchers Max Scherzer and Jon Gray are both on the Rangers roster. Both starters were knocked out by injuries in September. Scherzer, who helped the National beat the Astros in the 2019 World Series, went out with a strained muscle in his right shoulder on Sept. 12. Gray, who was 9-8 with a 4.12 ERA in his second season with the Rangers, went on the injured list in the final week of the regular season with a forearm injury. — Reid Laymance

Rangers roster details

Pitchers: Cody Bradford, Aroldis Chapman, Dane Dunning, Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Gray, Andrew Heaney, José Leclerc, Jordan Montgomery, Martin Perez, Josh Sborz, Max Scherzer, Will Smith, Chris Stratton

Outfielders: Evan Carter, Adolis Garcia, Robbie Grossman, Travis Jankowski, Leody Taveras

Catchers: Mitch Garver, Austin Hedges, Jonah Heim

Infielders: Josh Jung, Nathaniel Lowe, Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Josh Smith

Astros roster set

The Astros made one change from their ALDS roster and are going with 13 pitchers. RHP Ronel Blanco was added in place of  outfielder Jake Meyers. — Reid Laymance

Astros roster details

Pitchers: Bryan Abreu, Ronel Blanco, Hunter Brown, J.P. France, Cristian Javier, Phil Maton, Rafael Montero, Hector Neris, Ryan Pressly, Ryne Stanek, José Urquidy, Framber Valdez, Justin Verlander.

Catchers: Yainer Diaz, Martín Maldonado

Infielders:  José Abreu, Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Mauricio Dubón, Grae Kessinger, Jeremy Peña, Jon Singleton

Outfielders: Yordan Alvarez, Michael Brantley, Chas McCormick, Kyle Tucker

Preview

• Dusty Baker and Bruce Bochy are more than just golden oldies when it comes to managing winners.
• Second to none: How Jose Altuve, Marcus Semien are key to Astros, Rangers success.
• The man with the Golden Glove: Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña’s defense will be a key in ALCS.
• How the teams match up, and a prediction
• Fifty years later, David Clyde reflects on living his dream as a teenage big leaguer with Rangers.
• The Ryans, first family of baseball in Texas, have experienced both sides of Astros, Rangers.
• Justin Verlander takes big-game experience into ALCS meeting with Jordan Montgomery
• From AL Central to ALCS, former rivals together for Astros
• History of a simmering Lone Star State feud
• Ranking the Astros’ rivals and where the Rangers fit
• Essay: Growing up with the Rangers wasn’t easy but always interesting