After beating the Cleveland Indians in the American League Division Series, the World Series Champion Houston Astros are set for a familiar opponent in the American League Championship Series.
The Boston Red Sox, who beat the Yankees in the ALDS in four games, will host the Astros in Game One of the ALCS tomorrow night at Fenway Park.
The Astros and Red Sox have crossed paths in the playoffs before, with the Astros beating Boston in the ALDS on their way to the World Series championship last year.
Following that loss, the Red Sox made changes, bringing in then-Astros bench coach Alex Cora as their manager and signing former Astro J.D. Martinez as their big free agent acquisition. The result was the best record in baseball, something Astros manager A.J. Hinch says does not phase his team.
"There's certainly no fear. You won't ever use the word panic when it comes to us. There's the right combination of confidence and swagger and yet somehow we're going to enter the series the underdog," Hinch said.
Hinch also talked about what Cora has meant to the Red Sox since taking over.
“(I’m) trying to remember some things that I told him that I wish I wouldn’t have,” Hinch explained.
Justin Verlander starts for the ‘Stros. The Red Sox counter with Chris Sale. First pitch tomorrow is after 7pm, with coverage on Sports Talk 790 starting at 5.