Astros vs. Rangers ALCS Game 4 starting lineups and pitching matchup 2023

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers’ seven-game postseason win streak came to an end Wednesday night at Globe Life Field as the Astros punched back for their first win of the American League Championship Series.

In the regular season, the Rangers were 50-31 at home, while the Astros were 51-30 on the road. Houston came out on top in the first matchup away from Minute Maid Park.

The Rangers have been a streaky team in the second half. But they’re relying on their experience with bouncing back to help them come out on top.

“That’s something that we’ve done pretty much all year,” third baseman Josh Jung said. “We’ve had some ups, we’ve had some downs. We are where we are and we are who we are because of our resilience.”

Including the regular season, the Astros have won six straight games at Globe Life Field and seven of eight overall. During their six-game win streak, they’ve outscored the Rangers 61-33. They’ll look to win two more and send the series back to Houston.

“We were close to winning the first two games,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “We were one hit away. Might not have won, but we were one hit away from at least tying it up and going ahead. But this team doesn't quit. We know that the Rangers don't quit, either. And it makes for a good series.”

When is the game and how can I watch it?

Tonight's game is live now on FS1.

All series are available in the U.S. on MLB.TV with authentication to a participating Pay TV provider. Games are available live internationally (except in Canada). Full game archives will be available approximately 90 minutes after the game ends.

Who are the starting pitchers?

Astros: RHP Jose Urquidy

Like Game 3 winner Cristian Javier, Urquidy has built a nice postseason resume, and he’ll look to add to it when he gets the ball in Game 4. The right-hander allowed two runs over 5 2/3 innings in the clinching win over the Twins in the AL Division Series, and over eight career postseason appearances (seven starts), he has recorded a 3.64 ERA across 42 innings. Urquidy has pitched in some big games -- and wins -- since returning from a right shoulder injury in early August.

Rangers: LHP Andrew Heaney

Heaney last appeared in the postseason in Game 1 of the ALDS in Baltimore, where he allowed one earned run over 3 2/3 innings. During the regular season, the lefty pitched to a 4.15 ERA over 34 appearances (28 starts), spanning 147 1/3 innings. He faced the Astros four times in 2023, all starts, allowing six runs over 19 2/3 innings (2.75 ERA).

What are the starting lineups?

Astros: Baker shook things up in Game 3 with Michael Brantley hitting second and Kyle Tucker moving down to sixth, as Baker hinted would happen a day earlier. While the move helped the Astros win Game 3, when they had 12 hits and scored eight runs, Brantley returns to the bench for Game 4 with a lefty in Heaney starting for the Rangers. Chas McCormick gets the start in left instead and will bat seventh.

Rangers: Manager Bruce Bochy shook things up in Game 2 with Astros lefty Framber Valdez on the mound and in Game 3 against Javier. With Urquidy starting against Texas in Game 4, Bochy mostly stayed with his lineup from Wednesday's game, keeping rookie sensation Evan Carter in the three-hole. The lone change was Mitch Garver, who moved one spot up in the order.

How will the bullpens line up after the starter?

Astros: Baker used all three of his high-leverage relievers in Game 3 -- Hector Neris threw 19 pitches, Bryan Abreu threw 17 and closer Ryan Pressly threw 13. All three should be available for Game 4, and Houston has plenty of fresh arms behind them with Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek, as well as long relief options Ronel Blanco and Hunter Brown.

Rangers: With Heaney getting the start with less than a full starter’s workload, Dane Dunning should come up behind him to provide length out of the bullpen. The three relievers who were used in Games 1 and 2 -- Josh Sborz, José Leclerc and Aroldis Chapman -- were not used in the Game 3 loss, and they should be ready to go in high-leverage situations in Game 4 after an extra day of rest.

Any injuries of note?

Astros: Relief pitcher Kendall Graveman is battling right shoulder discomfort and is not on the ALCS roster.

Rangers: With Scherzer and Jon Gray both being activated from the injured list for the ALCS, the Rangers are in relatively good health at this point. Reliever Jonathan Hernández was again left off the roster due to a right lat strain, an injury that Bochy said was sustained during Game 162, when Hernández tossed one perfect inning with two strikeouts in Texas’ 1-0 loss to Seattle.

Who’s hot, who’s not?

Astros: Yordan, Yordan, Yordan. Alvarez had another big hit in Game 3, a single in the seventh that drove in two runs in Houston’s 8-5 win. Alvarez leads the Majors this postseason with 11 runs scored, and he’s slashing a rather ridiculous .407/.467/1.148. He’s the first player since Alex Rodriguez (Yankees, 2009) with five-plus homers, 10-plus RBIs and 10 or more hits through the first seven games of a postseason. Carlos Beltran (Astros, 2004) is the only other player to do this.

Kyle Tucker is still looking to break through, but hitting sixth in Game 3, he doubled in the ninth inning. Alex Bregman is batting .185 through the postseason.

Rangers: Josh Jung recorded his first career postseason multihomer game Wednesday, logging a two-run shot in the fifth and another in the seventh. He’s the fifth player and first rookie in Rangers postseason history with a multihomer game and the first since Nelson Cruz, who hit two homers in Game 2 of the 2011 ALCS.

Corey Seager has cooled off a bit, going 0-for-4 in Game 3. He’s 1-for-9 in his past two games.

LIVE: Astros vs. Rangers ALCS Game 4 on FS1