Rangers vs. Astros ALCS Game 5 Starting Pitcher Matchup - October 20

Updated Oct. 20, 2023 10:43 a.m. ET

Data Skrive

The Texas Rangers are at home for Game 5 of the ALCS against the Houston Astros on Friday at 5:07 PM ET at Globe Life Field. The teams are tied 2-2 in the series.

Learn more about this Rangers vs. Astros matchup on Fox Sports.

The probable pitchers are Jordan Montgomery (10-11, 3.20 ERA) for the Rangers against Justin Verlander (13-8, 3.22 ERA) for the Astros.

Rangers Probable Starter: Jordan Montgomery

The Rangers will send Montgomery (10-11) to make his 33rd start of the season. He is 10-11 with a 3.20 ERA and 166 strikeouts in 188 2/3 innings pitched.
The left-hander last pitched on Monday against the Houston Astros, when he went 6 1/3 scoreless innings while giving up five hits.
In 32 games this season, the 30-year-old has amassed a 3.20 ERA and 7.9 strikeouts per nine innings, while giving up a batting average of .247 to opposing batters.
Montgomery is trying to pick up his 21st quality start of the year in this outing.
Montgomery has 28 starts this year in which he pitched five or more innings.
He has had seven appearances this season in which he kept his opponents to zero earned runs.
The opposing Astros offense has a collective .259 batting average, and is third in the league with 1441 total hits and fifth in MLB action with 827 runs scored. It has the sixth-ranked slugging percentage (.437) and ranks seventh in home runs (222) in all of MLB.
Montgomery has thrown 13 innings, giving up one earned run on 11 hits while striking out 12 against the Astros this season.
Among qualifying pitchers in MLB play this season, the 30-year-old's 3.20 ERA ranks eighth, 1.193 WHIP ranks 23rd, and 7.9 K/9 ranks 36th.

Montgomery's Game Props

Strikeouts Prop: Over/Under 3.5 (Over Odds: -154)
Hits Prop: Over/Under 5.5 (Over Odds: +100)

Montgomery's Recent Appearances

Opponent	Date	IP	H	R	ER	K	BB
at Astros	Oct. 15	6.1	5	0	0	6	1
at Orioles	Oct. 8	4.0	9	5	4	2	1
at Rays	Oct. 3	7.0	6	0	0	5	0
at Mariners	Sep. 28	6.0	5	1	1	5	2
vs. Mariners	Sep. 23	7.0	5	0	0	6	2

Astros Probable Starter: Justin Verlander

Verlander (13-8) will take the mound for the Astros, his 28th start of the season.
The right-hander's last start was on Monday, when he tossed 6 2/3 innings while giving up two earned runs on six hits in a matchup with the Texas Rangers.
The 40-year-old has an ERA of 3.22 and 8 strikeouts per nine innings with an opponent batting average of .226 in 27 games this season.
If he completes six or more innings with three or fewer earned runs allowed, he'll earn his third quality start in a row.
Verlander has 22 starts in a row of five innings or more.
He has finished six appearances without allowing an earned run in 27 chances this season.
The Rangers rank third in MLB with 881 runs scored this season. They have a .263 batting average this campaign with 233 home runs (third in the league).
The Rangers have gone 10-for-51 with a double, two home runs and three RBI in two games against the right-hander this season.
Among qualified pitchers this campaign, the 40-year-old's 3.22 ERA ranks ninth, 1.133 WHIP ranks 14th, and 8 K/9 ranks 34th.