HOUSTON – The pitching matchups are set for the first three games of the 2018 American League Division Series between the Houston Astros and Cleveland Indians.
Justin Verlander will take on Corey Kluber in Game 1 at Minute Maid Park at 1:05 p.m. Friday.
Gerrit Cole will face Carlos Carrasco in Game 2 at 3:37 p.m. Saturday in Houston.
Dallas Keuchel will start against Mike Clevenger in Game 3 in Cleveland and Charlie Morton will start Game 4, if necessary. Indians manager Terry Francona said Trevor Bauer or Shane Bieber would start Game 4 for Cleveland.
All four scheduled starters for the Astros rank in the top 20 as far as hard-hit rate goes. Verlander is sixth in the league, Cole is eighth, Morton is 10th and Keuchel is 20th. Lance McCullers Jr. is 22nd. Bauer, 27th, is the only Indians pitcher in the top 40.
Kluber has dominated Houston this season in two starts. He posted a 1.35 ERA in 13.1 innings, allowing 13 hits. All other Indians pitchers have combined to throw 52.2 innings and allow 64 hits with a 7.34 ERA. Cleveland's bullpen has been shelled by Houston hitters to the tune of a 10.18 ERA in 20.1 innings and allowing 29 hits.