After falling a game short of making the World Series last year, the Astros have a chance to make it there this year as Game 6 of the ALCS gets underway on Friday.
The Astros seem to have the momentum heading into the game; they've won two in a row and put up nine runs in both games. They were also helped by strong pitching performances, specifically by Framber Valdez in Game 5. He threw eight innings of one-run ball, giving up three hits and striking out five.
MORE: Explaining the mysterious light in ALCS Game 5
In Game 6, it will be Luis Garcia on the mound for the Astros and Nathan Eovaldi for the Red Sox in a rematch of Game 2, which Boston won 9-5. Both pitchers struggled in their most recent outings, however.
Garcia lasted just one inning in Game 2, giving up five earned runs on two hits and three walks, including a grand slam to J.D. Martinez. He hasn't pitched since then. Eovaldi saw action in Game 4 on Tuesday.
After pitching well in Game 2 and earning the win (5 1/3 innings, three earned runs), he took the loss in Game 4 when he lasted just two-thirds of an inning in relief and gave up four earned runs on two hits and two walks. Eovaldi claimed he fell victim to bad umpiring by Laz Diaz behind the plate, and that that was part of the reason the Astros were able to mount a comeback capped by a seven-run ninth inning.
MORE: Laz Diaz's strike zone faces criticism after Red Sox's blowout loss
The Astros are hoping for a bounceback from Garcia as they try to earn the franchise's first World Series berth since 2017 and manager Dusty Baker's first since 2002. The Red Sox, meanwhile, are looking for Eovaldi to return to Game 2 form and tie the series 3-3 to force a decisive Game 7.
Sporting News is tracking the live score, updates and highlights throughout Game 6 of the American League Championship Series. at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Follow below for complete coverage.
MORE: Watch Red Sox vs. Astros live on fuboTV (7-day free trial)
Astros vs. Rays score
| FINAL | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R |
| Astros | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Red Sox | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Astros vs. Red Sox live updates
Live updates will begin around first pitch, which is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. ET
What channel is Astros vs. Red Sox on today?
- TV channel: FS1
- Live stream: Fox Sports app | fuboTV (7-day free trial)
Fox will continue its coverage of the American League postseason with the airing of ALCS Game 6. Joe Buck will be calling play-by-play with John Smoltz and Jeff Francoeur providing analysis. Tom Verducci and Ken Rosenthal will be the field reporters.
Those hoping to stream the game can find it on the Fox Sports app or on fuboTV, which offers a 7-day free trial.
In Canada, all postseason games are available on Sportsnet and SN1.
Astros vs. Red Sox start time
- Date: Friday, Oct. 22
- First pitch: 8:08 p.m. ET
Astros vs. Red Sox is scheduled to start at 8:08 p.m. ET on Friday.
MLB playoff schedule 2021
National League
Wild-card game
| Date | Game | Start time | TV channel | Result |
| Wed., Oct. 6 | Cardinals at Dodgers | 8:10 p.m. | TBS | 3-1, LAD |
Division Series
TBS will handle the broadcast for all NLDS games in both series.
| Date | Game | Start time | TV channel | Result |
| Fri., Oct. 8 | Dodgers at Giants, Game 1 | 9:37 p.m. | TBS | 4-0, SF |
| Fri., Oct. 8 | Braves at Brewers, Game 1 | 4:37 p.m. | TBS | 2-1, MIL |
| Sat., Oct. 9 | Dodgers at Giants, Game 2 | 9:07 p.m. | TBS | 9-2, LAD |
| Sat., Oct. 9 | Braves at Brewers, Game 2 | 5:07 p.m. | TBS | 3-0, ATL |
| Mon., Oct. 11 | Giants at Dodgers, Game 3 | 9:37 p.m. | TBS | 1-0, SF |
| Mon., Oct. 11 | Brewers at Braves, Game 3 | 1:07 p.m. | TBS | 3-0, ATL |
| Tue., Oct. 12 | Giants at Dodgers, Game 4 | 9:07 p.m. | TBS | 7-2, LAD |
| Tue., Oct. 12 | Brewers at Braves, Game 4 | 5:15 p.m. | TBS | 5-4, ATL |
| Thu., Oct. 14 | Dodgers at Giants, Game 5* | 9:07 p.m. | TBS | 2-1, LAD |
*If necessary
Championship Series
TBS will continue its National League playoff coverage with coverage of every NLCS game.
| Date | Game | Start time | TV channel | Result |
| Sat., Oct. 16 | Dodgers at Braves, Game 1 | 8:07 p.m. | TBS | 3-2, ATL |
| Sun., Oct. 17 | Dodgers at Braves, Game 2 | 7:38 p.m. | TBS | 5-4, ATL |
| Tue., Oct. 19 | Braves at Dodgers, Game 3 | 5:08 p.m. | TBS | 6-5, LAD |
| Wed., Oct. 20 | Braves at Dodgers, Game 4 | 8:08 p.m. | TBS | 9-2, ATL |
| Thu., Oct. 21 | Braves at Dodgers, Game 5 | 8:08 p.m. | TBS | 11-2, LAD |
| Sat., Oct. 23 | Dodgers at Braves, Game 6 | 5:08 p.m. | TBS | -- |
| Sun., Oct. 24 | Dodgers at Braves, Game 7* | 7:38 p.m. | TBS | -- |
* If necessary.
American League
Wild-card game
| Date | Game | Start time | TV channel | Result |
| Tue., Oct. 5 | Yankees at Red Sox | 8:08 p.m. | ESPN | 6-2, BOS |
Division Series
MLB Network and FS1 will carry all the ALDS games, until potential Game 5s, which would be broadcast exclusively on FS1.
| Date | Game | Start time | TV channel | Result |
| Thu., Oct. 7 | Red Sox at Rays, Game 1 | 8:07 p.m. | FS1 | 5-0, TB |
| Thu., Oct. 7 | White Sox at Astros, Game 1 | 4:07 p.m. | FS1 | 6-1, HOU |
| Fri., Oct. 8 | Red Sox at Rays, Game 2 | 7:02 p.m. | FS1 | 14-6, BOS |
| Fri., Oct. 8 | White Sox at Astros, Game 2 | 2:07 p.m. | MLB Network | 9-4, HOU |
| Sun., Oct. 10 | Rays at Red Sox, Game 3 | 4:07 p.m. | MLB Network | 6-4 (13), BOS |
| Sun., Oct. 10 | Astros at White Sox, Game 3 | 8:07 p.m. | FS1 | 12-6, CHI |
| Mon., Oct. 11 | Rays at Red Sox, Game 4 | 7:07 p.m. | FS1 | 6-5, BOS |
| Tue., Oct. 12 | Astros at White Sox, Game 4 | 2:07 p.m. | FS1 | 10-1, HOU |
*If necessary.
Championship Series
Fox and FS1 will split coverage of the ALCS.
| Date | Game | Start time | TV channel | Result |
| Fri., Oct. 15 | Red Sox at Astros, Game 1 | 8:07 p.m. | Fox | 5-4, HOU |
| Sat., Oct. 16 | Red Sox at Astros, Game 2 | 4:20 p.m. | Fox | 9-5, BOS |
| Mon., Oct. 18 | Astros at Red Sox, Game 3 | 8:07 p.m. | Fox/FS1 | 12-3, BOS |
| Tue., Oct. 19 | Astros at Red Sox, Game 4 | 8:08 p.m. | FS1 | 9-2, HOU |
| Wed., Oct. 20 | Astros at Red Sox, Game 5 | 5:08 p.m. | FS1 | 9-1, HOU |
| Fri., Oct. 22 | Red Sox at Astros, Game 6 | 8:08 p.m. | FS1 | -- |
| Sat., Oct. 23 | Red Sox at Astros, Game 7* | 8:08 p.m. | Fox/FS1 | -- |
* If necessary.
World Series schedule
Every World Series game will be on Fox.
| Date | Game | Start time | TV channel | Result |
| Tue., Oct. 26 | TBD at TBD, Game 1 | TBD | Fox | -- |
| Wed., Oct. 27 | TBD at TBD, Game 2 | TBD | Fox | -- |
| Fri., Oct. 29 | TBD at TBD, Game 3 | TBD | Fox | -- |
| Sat., Oct. 30 | TBD at TBD, Game 4 | TBD | Fox | -- |
| Sun., Oct. 31 | TBD at TBD, Game 5* | TBD | Fox | -- |
| Tue., Nov. 2 | TBD at TBD, Game 6* | TBD | Fox | -- |
| Wed., Nov. 3 | TBD at TBD, Game 7* | TBD | Fox | -- |
* If necessary.