HOUSTON — The stakes don’t get any higher. The Rangers and Astros meet in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on Monday night. With the ALCS tied at three games apiece, it comes down to a single game to decide which team heads to the World Series.
First pitch is 7:03 p.m. with Cristian Javier heading to the hill for Houston and the Rangers countering with Max Scherzer.
Does the home team have the advantage in Game 7?
While teams play all year to get more games at their home ballpark in the postseason, home field is actually not a big advantage when a series goes to a deciding Game 7. According to MLB.com, there have been 59 World Series and LCS Game 7s in league history. The home team has won 30 of those times, with the visitor winning 27 Game 7s. Not included in the records are the Game 7s in the 2020 COVID-shortened season, as games were played at neutral sites.
How are the Astros and Rangers in Game 7s?
The Astros have had five postseason Game 7s, according to MLB.com. Houston was 2-3 in those games. They lost Game 7s to the Rays in the 2020 ALCS, the Nationals in the 2019 World Series and the Cardinals in the 2004 NLCS. Both Game 7s that they won were in 2017, as they took out the Yankees in the ALCS and the Dodgers in the World Series. The Rangers have had just one Game 7. They lost that one to the Cardinals in the 2011 World Series.
This isn't the first Game 7 at Minute Maid Park for Rangers' starter Max Scherzer
Scherzer was actually the starting pitcher for the Nationals in Game 7 of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park. He left with the Nationals down 2-0 to Houston, but Washington did come back to win the game and the World Series. As for his mound opponent, Cristian Javier -- the Astros have never lost a playoff game that he has started.
So there’s a little history about Game 7s. It’s history that will be added to after the Astros and Rangers go head-to-head at Minute Maid Park on Monday night.