MLB: Astros Advance to the ALCS
The Houston Astros are headed to the American League Championship Series for the first time in franchise history, after moving to the AL in 2013. The last time they reached the championship series round, it was 2005, when they won the NL pennant, and lost in the World Series to the Chicago White Sox. In 2017, the Astros have defeated the Boston Red Sox, 5-4 in Game 4, and are advancing to the next series.
Justin Verlander (2-0) was acquired from the Detroit Tigers following the trade deadline, and he's lived up to the hype with Houston. After winning Game 1, he came into Game 4 in a one-run game, and ended up taking another victory, this time on the road. He pitched 2.2 innings and gave up just one earned run. Chris Sale (0-2) on the other hand, who was the Red Sox's ace during the season, lost both games to Verlander.
Game 4 was headlined by George Springer (.412 BA) and Josh Reddick (.375 BA) who combined for five hits, two walks, and two runs batted in. Jose Altuve (.533 BA), the potential AL MVP, also had an incredible series, and is looking to get his team to the World Series for the first time since the aforementioned 2005 campaign. The Astros have never won a World Series and have only reached it once.
This Houston team is doing a lot of things that the organization has never seen, and they'll have another shot at reaching the World Series, when they face either the Cleveland Indians or the New York Yankees in the next round. If the Indians move on, the Astros will travel to Ohio for Game 1 and 2. However, if it's New York, the Astros will host the ALCS.
Dallas Keuchel is the likely starter for Game 2, just as he did in the American League Divisional Series. He went 5.2 innings, struck out seven batters, walked only three, and gave up one earned run. No matter what happens in the next round for the Astros, this team is cemented in the franchise's history as one of the top teams in the organization's history, after going 101-61 and beating the Red Sox 3-1 in the First Round.
Photo Credit: Houston Chronicle.
