‘El Reptil’ cool under pressure
Javier brings lengthy postseason scoreless run into Game 3 start
ARLINGTON — Cristian Javier holds the nickname “El Reptil” for his stoic demeanor no matter the stage. Tuesday, the Astros righthander was asked what reptile he considers his favorite. His response: crocodile. “Crocodiles seem like they’re calm,” Javier said through an interpreter. “But when they get in the water, they can get aggressive.”
Embodying that attribute might benefit Javier, and the Astros by extension, when he takes the mound in perhaps their most critical game yet this year. Javier will start Game 3 of the American League Championship Series on Wednesday at Globe Life Field, opposing Max Scherzer, with the Astros trailing the Rangers 2-0 in the best-of-seven set.
Javier was hit hard in his one start against the Rangers this season, allowing eight runs in 4 1⁄3 innings on July 3 in Arlington. That outing arrived amid Javier’s worst stretch of the year, however, and after a rough second half, his last several starts have resembled a turnaround.
Javier worked six scoreless innings in the regular-season finale in Arizona, then threw five scoreless in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Twins at Target Field. Javier issued five walks in his start in Minnesota but allowed just one hit and struck out nine as the Astros seized a 2-1 series lead.
He will pitch Wednesday in circumstances not entirely unfamiliar. Javier started Game 4 of last year’s World Series with Houston facing a 2-1 series deficit to the Phillies. He fired the first six innings of the combined nohitter that turned the tide of that series, which the Astros won in six games.
“I think that was a big moment for him,” catcher Martín Maldonado said Tuesday. “You don’t call him El Reptil for nothing. I feel like that guy, you don’t see any blood going through his veins.”
Playoffs have prompted Javier’s best. His start against the Twins extended Javier’s postseason scoreless streak to 16 1⁄3 innings, the longest active streak in the majors. In three playoff starts, he has faced 61 batters, allowed two hits and struck out 23.
The Rangers forged a 2-0 lead in this ALCS by outpitching the Astros in two games at Minute Maid Park. Their starters, Jordan Montgomery and Nathan Eovaldi, combined to allow three runs in 12 1⁄3 innings in Games 1 and 2. The series now shifts to Globe Life Field, where the Astros averaged nine runs across seven games in the regular season.
No Astros team has come back from a 2-0 deficit to win a best-ofseven playoff series. Before this ALCS, the Astros faced a 2-0 hole just twice in 18 playoff series since the start of 2017 — the 2020 ALCS against the Rays and the 2019 World Series against the Nationals — losing both series in a Game 7. Only 14 of 89 previous MLB teams trailing 2-0 in a best-ofseven series have come back to win.
“I thought (Game 2) we had chances to win. I thought we played really good,” Houston outfielder Chas McCormick said. “A couple big two-out hits, we win that game. It could easily be 1-1 going here, and we would have a lot of momentum, just because we’ve played really well here. So it’s 2-0, a little different. But again, all we’ve got to do is win tomorrow.”
Scherzer is something of a wild card in this series, having last pitched Sept. 12 due to a teres major strain. Texas has several starters in its bullpen who could enter if Scherzer falters.
“It’s definitely going to be different,” Scherzer said. “All you can do is go out and give my all, go out and compete as long as I can. That’s all I can do is give everything I’ve got for tomorrow.”