The Houston Astros got the 2015 MLB postseason started with a win in The Bronx in the American League Wild Card Game on Tuesday night. Houston moved on to face the reigning pennant winners, the top-seeded Kansas City Royals beginning with Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Thursday night at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.
Astros vs. Royals, 2015 ALDS: Time, TV schedule and how to watch Game 1 online
Kansas City won two of three home games against Houston during the regular season.
Kansas City will open with Yordano Ventura in Game 1. The 24-year-old fireballer started off slowly in 2015, but was formidable down the stretch, helping the Royals secure the best record (95-67) in the American League. Ventura was 7-1 with a 2.38 ERA over his final 11 starts, with 81 strikeouts in 68 innings.
Collin McHugh was similarly effective down the stretch for Houston, going 7-2 with a 2.89 ERA since the beginning of August, with 69 strikeouts and just 20 walks in 71⅔ innings. McHugh starts Game 1 for the Astros, and will be followed in Houston's rotation by Scott Kazmir in Game 2, then Dallas Keuchel in Game 3 back home in Houston.
Keuchel pitched six scoreless innings to get the win for Houston on Tuesday, on just three days rest.
The Astros will try to match the Wild Card magic the Royals rode in 2014, all the way to Game 7 of the World Series.
“I think both teams have a lot of fun,” McHugh told reporters on Wednesday. “I think that’s probably the closest similarity I can see with our team. We’re exciting too. We’ve got a lot of players that are fun to watch on a daily basis. This should be a really interesting series when it comes down to it.”
Fox Sports 1 will televise Game 1 from Kansas City at 7:30 p.m. PT, with Matt Vasgersian on play-by-play, alongside analysts John Smoltz and reporter Jon Morosi.
The game will be available online via the Fox Sports Go app, with authentication required via television provider.
Astros vs. Royals, ALDS Game 1
Location: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City
Time: 7:37 p.m. ET
TV: Fox Sports 1
Streaming: Fox Sports GO mobile app; Postseason.tv
Radio: ESPN Radio
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