MLB Player News

Montgomery allowed five hits and one walk across 6.1 scoreless innings to earn the win in Sunday's 2-0 contest against the Astros in Game 1 of the ALCS. He struck out six.

Montgomery faltered in his previous start against Baltimore in the ALDS, but he was able to right the ship in this one to help cover the bulk of the shutout. The southpaw faced a tense moment in the fourth inning with the bases loaded but managed to strike out Martin Maldonado to keep the Astros off the board. Sunday's win marked the second for Montgomery this October and his first playoff start with at least six strikeouts. He now has a 2.08 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 13 strikeouts across 17.1 innings this postseason.

Gray (forearm) is on the Rangers' roster for the American League Championship Series against the Astros, which begins Sunday in Houston, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The right-hander landed on the 15-day injured list with lower forearm tightness after his Sept. 25 start against the Angels, and he'll join the playoff roster after the Rangers advanced through the wild-card series and the ALDS. Max Scherzer (shoulder) also made the roster, potentially lining up Gray to start Game 4 on Thursday since Jordan Montgomery and Nathan Eovaldi are pitching the first two games of the series.

Scherzer (shoulder) is included on the Rangers' roster for the American League Championship Series against the Astros, which begins Sunday in Houston, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Scherzer has been sidelined for the past month by a strain of the teres major muscle in his right shoulder, but he's made a quick recovery after initially being given an 8-to-12-week return timeline. The 39-year-old tossed a 60-pitch simulated game Wednesday and could have some workload limitations when he takes the mound. According to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic, manager Bruce Bochy said there's a "good chance" Scherzer starts Game 3 on Wednesday, but the right-hander could also be used Sunday if the right situation presents itself.

Eovaldi will start Monday against Houston in Game 2 of the ALCS, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Eovaldi has been brilliant to start the postseason, allowing just two runs while striking out 15 batters and walking none across 13.2 innings. However, Eovaldi was lit up for four runs in just 1.1 frames during his most recent matchup with Houston in early September.

Valdez will start Monday against Texas in Game 2 of the ALCS, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Valdez had a tough time getting through his first appearance of the postseason, surrendering five runs over 4.1 innings against Minnesota in Game 2 of the ALDS. Valdez has been a reliable member of Houston's rotation with a 3.45 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in the regular season, but momentum will not be on his side against the Rangers after three consecutive shaky outings.

Montgomery will start Sunday against the Astros in Game 1 of the ALCS, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

Montgomery began the postseason with a seven-inning shutout performance against Tampa Bay in the first game of the AL Wild Card Series, but he followed that up by allowing five runs (four earned) in four innings in Game 2 of the ALDS versus the Orioles. Despite his poor performance against Baltimore, Montgomery still holds a solid 2.55 ERA, albeit with a 1.53 WHIP, in his postseason career.

Scherzer (shoulder) went through pitchers' fielding practice at Globe Life Field on Friday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The veteran right-hander completed a 60-pitch simulated game Wednesday, and this is a good sign he's feeling OK afterward. The Rangers have not yet announced their ALCS roster, but it would be a surprise at this point if Scherzer isn't on it. He last pitched Sept. 12 due to a strain of the teres major muscle in his right shoulder and was initially given an 8-12 week timeline to return, so if he does indeed make it back for the ALCS it would be a rapid recovery.

Kaprielian (shoulder) cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday.

Kaprielian had been on the 60-day injured list following surgery in August to repair the posterior labrum in his right shoulder. It's not clear how long his rehab is expected to take, but the right-hander will have to prove his health and earn his way back onto the 40-man roster.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said he was "real encouraged" by Scherzer's (shoulder) simulated game Wednesday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Scherzer nearly made the roster for the ALDS and appears on track to return to the Rangers' starting rotation for their upcoming ALCS matchup against the Astros, which begins Sunday in Houston. He's been sidelined since Sept. 12 because of a teres major muscle injury, but the veteran right-hander threw around 40 pitches to live hitters last Friday and extended himself to about 60 pitches during Wednesday's workout at Globe Life Field. Jon Gray (forearm) could also be activated for the American League Championship Series.

Verlander will start Game 1 of the ALCS against the Rangers on Sunday in Houston, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Verlander would have gotten the call for a potential ALDS Game 5 start against the Twins, but the Astros took care of business with a clinching Game 4 victory Wednesday at Target Field. The veteran right-hander was his usual trusty October self in Game 1 of that best-of-five series, tallying six strikeouts over six scoreless innings in a 6-4 defeat of Minnesota. He'll be on seven full days of rest leading into the opener of the best-of-seven American League Championship Series versus Texas.