The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros are set to face off in the 2023 American League Championship Series, beginning Sunday in Houston at 8:15 pm ET on FOX. The Rangers reached their first ALCS since 2011 by sweeping the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL Wild Card Series, and the 101-win AL East champion Baltimore Orioles in the ALDS. The Astros meanwhile have reached their seventh straight ALCS, having done so by defeating the AL Central champion Minnesota Twins, 3-1 in the ALDS.
While both teams are looking ahead to their battle for the AL Pennant, let’s take a look back at both series and award an MVP for each.
Twins vs Astros: Astros win, 3-1
ALDS MVP: Yordan Alvarez, Houston
Alvarez hit .438, with a .471 OBP, 1.313 SLG, 1.784 OPS, four homers, and six RBI in the series win over Minnesota. He hit two homers in the first game of the series and never looked back, as he continued his career-dominance of the Division Series. Alvarez has hit seven career homers in the Division Series, while slashing .328/.423/.787/1.210 through four years of the ALDS.
Rangers vs Orioles: Rangers win, 3-0
ALDS MVP: Corey Seager, Texas
Seager hit .333, with a .733 OBP, .833 SLG, 1.566 OPS, one homer and one RBI in the sweep of Baltimore. While he didn’t lead the Rangers in average, homers, and RBI, he did walk nine times in the series, and was a table setter in the top third of the Texas lineup to set up his teammates to do some damage. Postseason Seager is back, and in a big way.
(Featured image via MLB.com)
