Ricky Dimon
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The Major League Baseball postseason continues with another 2-game slate of League Championship Series action on Friday. It includes this American League showdown between the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers. The Rangers took the first 2 games on the road, but the Astros have returned the favor and it is all tied up at 2-2 heading into this all-important contest. Here is my Astros vs Rangers Same Game Parlay for Game 5 of the ALCS, and also be sure to check out all of our MLB picks throughout the rest of the postseason.
Astros ML (-106)
Justin Verlander to record 6+ strikeouts (+158)
Martin Maldonado to score a run (+150)
Same Game Parlay odds: +735
Part of the value in a Same Game Parlay, of course, is that all of its components can be correlated if you so choose. That is the entire plan here, as productive outings for both Justin Verlander and Martin Maldonado would obviously work well with a Houston victory. Let’s break down each of the 3 legs.
Houston Astros ML over Texas Rangers (-106)
Throughout this golden era of Astros baseball, they have been remarkably impressive on the road in the postseason. These 2023 playoffs are proving to be no exception. Houston dropped the first 2 games of this all-AL West ALCS at home, but – likely to the surprise of no one – it has leveled the series at 2-2 following a pair of road victories. The Astros play one more on the road tonight in Game 5 and once again should like their chances – especially with Verlander on the mound.
Verlander may have come out on the losing end in Game 1, but he allowed only 2 runs in 6.2 innings of work. The veteran right-hander is sporting a 1.42 ERA through 12.2 innings in the postseason. Jordan Montgomery was awesome for Texas in the series opener, but I can’t see him shutting down this Houston offense yet again now that the bats have come to life. Add in the fact that the Astros boast a better bullpen and I like them to sweep all 3 road games in this ALCS.
Read our full Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers predictions
Justin Verlander to record 6+ strikeouts (+158)
Verlander recorded 5 strikeouts in Game 1 and has racked up at least that many in 7 consecutive starts dating back to the regular season. This stretch includes 4 performances with at least 6 Ks, including 2 with 7 or more. It’s pretty obvious that asking him to reach the 6 mark really isn’t too much. In 4 postseason appearances last year, Verlander averaged 6.3 strikeouts per start. In 2019, when Houston lost to Washington in the World Series, he also averaged 6.3 strikeouts in 6 playoff starts. Marcus Semien has struck out 9 times in 46 at-bats against Verlander, Mitch Garver has gone down on strikes 8 times in 14 at-bats, Corey Seager has fanned six times in 23 at-bats and Josh Jung has been mowed down twice in 3 at-bats.
Find out our best MLB player prop bet of the day — we’re on a 13-2 run!
Martin Maldonado to score a run (+150)
It is true that Maldonado is the worst hitter in the Astros’ lineup, but he has a favorable matchup with Montgomery. Maldonado is 3-for-5 lifetime against the southpaw with 2 home runs, a double and a walk. Batting last in Houston’s order, he has guys like Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman behind him. If the catcher can get on a base once or twice, he should come around to score. Or he can just knock himself in with a homer, as he has done multiple times at Montgomery’s expense in the past. Maldonado has scored a run in each of the past 2 games and I am counting on him to make it 3 in a row.
We also have a Philadelphia Phillies vs Arizona Diamondbacks Same Game Parlay at +708 odds
