Astros’ Valdez to face Rangers’ Eovaldi in Game 2
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Justin Verlander already had been tabbed the Astros’ starter in Game 1 of the matchup against the Texas Rangers on Sunday. The Rangers will send left-hander Jordan Montgomery to the mound in Game 1 while Nathan Eovaldi will get the nod for Game 2, according to manager Bruce Bochy.
Valdez, 29, went 12-11 with a 3.45 ERA in 31 starts for Houston this season and was named an AL All-Star for the second time. Valdez also started Game 2 of the Astros’ AL Division Series against the Minnesota Twins and struggled, giving up five runs on seven hits over 4⅓ innings in the Astros’ only loss of the matchup.
In 14 playoff appearances (13 starts) over the past four seasons, Valdez is 7-3 with a 3.82 ERA. In five career ALCS starts, he is 3-1 with a 1.83 ERA over 29⅔ innings.
Eovaldi, 33, went 12-5 with a 3.63 ERA in 25 starts for Texas and was named an All-Star. He’s 6-3 with a 2.70 ERA in 13 postseason games.
Reuters contributed to this story.
