ALCS: ASTROS VS. RAYS

A capsule look at the best-of-seven ALCS between Houston and Tampa Bay beginning Sunday: HOUSTON ASTROS

Record: Playoff Entry:

Playoff Seed: Manager:

LHP Framber Valdez (5-3, 3.57 ERA, 76Ks), RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (3-3, 3.93, 56Ks), RHP Jose Urquidy (1-1, 2.73, 17Ks), RHP Zack Greinke (3

3, 4.03, 67Ks), RHP Cristian Javier (5-2, 3.48, 54Ks). DH Michael Brantley (.300, 5HRs, 22

RBIs, 15doubles), CF George Springer (.265, 14, 32), LF Kyle Tucker (.268, 9, 42).

RHP Ryan Pressly (1-3, 3.43ERA, 12 saves), RHP Enoli Paredes (3-3, 3.05), LHP Blake Taylor

(2-1, 2.18, 1save), LHP Brooks Raley (0-1, 3.94, 1save). Last year’s American League champions limped into playoffs as the only AL team to make it with a losing record. But Astros quickly rediscovered their postseason prowess. Scorned by opposing teams and fans, Houston is seeking a second World Series title after its 2017championship was tarnished last offseason by the revelation of an illegal sign-stealing scheme. ... Following a subpar regular season, star shortstop Carlos Correa is having a huge postseason, batting .500with four homers, 12RBIs and a 1.715OPS. All-Star sluggers José Altuve and Alex Bregman have also started hitting after down years. Houston batted

.322with 12home runs in the ALDS against Oakland. ... With ace Justin Verlander out (Tommy John surgery) and an aging Greinke laboring through arm soreness, a young and unproven pitching staff has delivered in the playoffs behind Valdez, Javier and Paredes. ... Baker, 71, became first skipper to lead five different franchises to the playoffs, but is still chasing his first World Series title as a manager. ... Houston topped the wild-card Rays 3-2in their best-of-five ALDS last year.

TAMPA BAY RAYS

Record: 40-20. Playoff Entry: AL East champions. Playoff Seed: No. 1. Manager: Kevin Cash (sixth

LHP Blake Snell (4-2, 3.24ERA,

63Ks in 50IP), RHP Charlie Morton (2-2, 4.74, 42Ks in

38IP), RHP Tyler Glasnow (5-1, 4.08, 91Ks in 571⁄3 IP).

2B Brandon Lowe (.269, 14HRs, 37RBIs,

36runs, .916OPS), SS Willy Adames (.259, 8, 23, .813 OPS).

RHP Nick Anderson (2-1, 0.55ERA, 6 saves), RHP Diego Castillo (3-0, 1.66, 4saves), RHP Pete Fairbanks (6-3, 2.70).

Rays are AL East champs for first time since 2010, third time overall. They won nine of their final 11regular-season games, finishing 20games over .500and completing the best 60-game start to a season in franchise history. It also matched the best 60-game stretch the club has had at any point in a season. ... Only other time the Rays reached the AL Championship Series was 2008, when they beat Boston in seven games before losing to the Phillies in the World Series. ... Thrifty and innovative Rays had a

$29million payroll during this virus-shortened season,

28th out of the 30big league teams. They led the AL with 20comeback wins. ... All-Star OF Austin Meadows returned against the Yankees from a left oblique strain and homered in Game 5. ... Snell had a loss and a save in last year’s ALDS vs. Houston. ... Morton spent

2017-18with the Astros and won Game 7of the 2017 World Series for them on the road against the Dodgers.