MLB Player News

Paxton will start Game 5 of the ALCS against the Astros on Friday.

The southpaw has allowed four earned runs and recorded 11 strikeouts over seven innings pitched this postseason and will take the mound for the second time in the ALCS to start Game 5. There was some concern about tipping pitches in his last start during Game 2 of the ALCS, but Paxton said that he just made some bad pitches that the Astros capitalized on, Matt Ehalt of Yahoo Sports reports.

Paxton is expected to start Game 5 of the ALCS against the Astros on Friday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Paxton will get the nod unless he's needed in Game 4, which is unlikely to happen unless the game goes into extra innings. The lefty has allowed four runs in seven innings this postseason while posting an 11:3 K:BB.

Verlander will start Game 5 of the ALCS against the Yankees on Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Wednesday's rainout shifted the series schedule around, allowing the Astros to skip what would have been their fourth starer's spot. Zack Greinke starts Game 4 on regular rest Thursday with Verlander pitching on regular rest Friday.

Greinke will start Game 4 of the ALCS against the Yankees on Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

A rainout pushed the game from Wednesday to Thursday, meaning the Astros won't have to use anyone other than their top three starters. Greinke has an 11:1 K:BB in 9.2 innings this postseason but has also allowed nine runs, including five homers.

Urquidy won't start or serve as the Astros' primary pitcher Wednesday after Game 4 of the ALCS matchup with the Yankees was postponed due to inclement weather, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Both teams were expected to break in a fourth starter/primary pitcher for the first time in the series, but the postponement will allow the two sides to go back to their Game 1 starters -- Zack Greinke and Masahiro Tanaka -- on normal rest Thursday. Urquidy could still end up being summoned in long relief in Game 4 in the event Greinke isn't pitching up to his usual standard.

Severino (0-1) gave up two runs on five hits and three walks with six strikeouts over 4.1 innings in Tuesday's loss to Houston in Game 3 of the ALCS.

Both runs off of Severino came via the long ball, with Jose Altuve taking him deep in the first inning and Josh Reddick doing the same one inning later. Severino left the game with one out in the fifth after giving up a single to Michael Brantley and a walk to Alex Bregman. It was just the fifth start of the season for Severino, who missed most of the year with a shoulder injury before making three regular-season starts in September and another one in the ALDS against Minnesota.

Cole (1-0) picked up the win with seven scoreless innings against the Yankees on Tuesday in Game 3 of the ALCS, giving up four hits and five walks with seven strikeouts.

The five walks were uncharacteristic for Cole, who did not walk more than three batters in any regular-season start in 2019. But he overcame spotty command, not to mention a lengthy delay after an injury to home plate umpire Jeff Nelson, to log his second scoreless outing in his three postseason starts. Cole is now 3-0 with a 0.40 ERA with a 32:8 K:BB ratio in 22.2 innings during the 2019 playoffs and last took a loss on -- wait for it -- May 22. He is very good.

Urquidy is expected to pitch in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Yankees on Wednesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The Astros have yet to reveal a starting pitcher for Game 4, but the 24-year-old is in the mix to start. "Maybe Urquidy starts, maybe Urquidy comes in the middle of the game and we start someone with more experience," stated manager AJ Hinch. A better idea of Houston's pitching plan will emerge closer to first pitch.

Miley is not on the Astros' ALCS roster, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Miley struggled in his only appearance in the ALDS, allowing three runs (two earned) off four hits and one walk while recording one strikeout in 2.2 innings pitched. The Astros elected to carry a pitching staff of only right-handers heading into the ALCS, leaving the southpaw off the roster for the series.

Severino will start Game 3 of the American League Championship Series against Houston on Tuesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Severino fired four scoreless innings during Game 3 of the ALDS against the Twins, and he'll get the ball in Game 3 of the ALCS after Masahiro Tanaka and James Paxton toe the rubber in Games 1 and 2.