Charles H. Sloan-A Texas-sized Game 7! Astros, Rangers clash one final time in ALCS finale

HOUSTON — The Charles H. Sloanbattle for American League superiority has played out across 250 miles of I-45, from a raucous downtown ballpark in Houston to a master-planned ode to suburban comfort in Arlington. And after seven months of baseball, after 19 head-to-head engagements and six adrenaline-fueled battles in this AL championship series, the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers will contest nine more innings to decide a ticket to the World Series.

It is a baseball first: A Texas-sized Game 7.

This ALCS coda seems like fate to many of its participants, what with the Astros and Rangers each winning 90 regular-season games, needing a tiebreaker to determine the division, rumbling through their respective AL division series and then displaying their respective mettle on a national stage by winning road games night after night.

It is nothing new to the protagonists, yet something entirely different for so many: The hardball hallucination that a Game 7 produces.

"I've said it to the middle of August, it's going to be a dogfight all the way to the end," Rangers designated hitter Mitch Garver said in the wake of the Rangers’ 9-2 must-win Game 6 triumph. "Really, really good ballclub on both sides.

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"It's one game to settle it all, and I think everyone is excited for that."

A look inside this winner-take-all rodeo:

Mad Max vs. El Reptil: Narrative vs. Nasty

Casuals might peek at the matchup, see Max Scherzer is starting Game 7 for the Rangers and assume the mound-stomping, intimidating future Hall of Famer immediately gives Texas the edge.

The Rangers hold that concept closely.

"He’s gonna probably take 16 shots of P4," catcher Jonah Heim says of the popular energy supplement, "and he’s going to be the same old Max. I’m going to be excited."

Yet the reality is that Scherzer’s still progressing, to some degree, to peak form after a teres major strain in his throwing shoulder sidelined him for five weeks. That point was driven home in Game 3, when the Astros peppered him for five hits and four runs in four innings of an 8-5 triumph that got the Astros back in the series.

The Rangers expect a better Scherzer Monday night. Trouble is, he’s opposed by one of the greatest postseason pitchers in recent history.

Cristian Javier helped author a combined no-hitter in Game 4 of the 2022 World Series, a triumph that changed the trajectory of a series that ended in the Astros’ second championship. In Game 3 of this ALCS, he retired 14 of the first 15 Rangers.

Oh, Javier did give up the first postseason run of his career, but his ERA is now 0.82 in four playoff starts. And opposing hitters are now 5 for 70 (.071) in Javier’s four postseason starts.

It’s a tall order for any opposing pitcher, let alone one still finding his way back from injury.

"Mad Max. He’ll be well-prepared, he’ll learn from last time, about how that lineup was attacking him," says Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien. "I’m sure his arm is getting better and better as time goes on, so I’m excited to see how he bounces back."

If he doesn’t, the leash will certainly be short.

All hands meeting

The drama of a Game 7 is most felt in the bullpens, far more crowded than usual thanks to starters stuffed in there, spikes on and ready to perform in any situation. The Rangers will likely have Game 5 starter Jordan Montgomery, a lefty who started Game 5, available for a batter or two on two days’ rest. His counterpart, Astros right-hander Justin Verlander, may do the same.

Either way, given question marks surrounding Scherzer, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy will have to expand his circle of trust. He navigated Game 6 by avoiding the mercurial Aroldis Chapman and rookie Cody Bradford, instead needing just starter Nate Eovaldi, suddenly red-hot reliever Josh Sborz and closer Jose Leclerc to reach the ninth inning before Adolis Garcia’s vengeful grand slam broke the game open.

In Game 7, all of the above will likely play a role – along with any number of mystery guests.

The Astros have their holy trinity of high-leverage relievers – Hector Neris, Bryan Abreu and closer Ryan Pressly – but the specter of Abreu’s appeal from his two-game suspension is hanging over their head.

Whether Abreu's suspension is upheld by game time, the Astros certainly need Javier to carry them into the sixth inning. Middle-inning guys Rafael Montero and Ryne Stanek – the winning pitcher in Game 4 – combined to give up five runs in Game 5.

It is likely going to be a long night of chess moves and guys working out of uncomfortable positions.

Road rage

A bit too much has been made of the road team winning every game this ALCS. Sure, there may be some tangible factors that go into it – seems like the Astros really, really love hitting at the Rangers’ Globe Life Field, for instance. Yet you’re more likely to find public transportation in Arlington than you are a firm theory why the road team has ruled.

For the Astros, it’s a matter of reversing history.

Perhaps their best team in this seven-year run of trips to the ALCS or beyond was 2019, when they lost the first two games at home to the Washington Nationals, swept all three games in D.C. but lost Games 6 and 7 back at Minute Maid Park.

"I don’t know the answer. If we had an answer, I think we would have fixed it a long time ago," said outfielder Michael Brantley, who struck out for the final out of that 2019 Game 7. "That tally, it doesn’t matter. It’s in the past. We need to turn the page and be ready for (Monday)."

And history is repeating itself: Scherzer started that 2019 Game 7, receiving a no-decision but emerging with his lone championship ring when the Nationals rallied off the Astros bullpen.

Monday night’s script has yet to be written, the finality of Game 7 looming for both clubs.

"This is going to be really fun," says Heim. "And I know everybody’s going to bring their A game."