Texas — Following his trade to the Cardinals during the 2022 Trade Deadline, Jordan Montgomery went on a run of seven shutout starts and recorded a 1.45 ERA. He gave credit to Mike Maddux, the pitching coach for St. Louis at the time, for encouraging him to use his four-seam fastball more often.
After Montgomery and Maddux were reunited in Texas at the 2023 Trade Deadline, the rest is Rangers history. figuratively.
• ALCS Game 2, sponsored by loanDepot, airs today on FOX/FS1 at 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. CT.
Sunday night, Montgomery made franchise history by becoming the first pitcher to pitch multiple six-or more-inning scoreless postseason starts. The left-hander pitched six and a third scoreless innings in a 2-0 victory over the Astros, which helped the team win a key Game 1 of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park.
Montgomery on his great outing
“I don’t think you’re doing it right if it doesn’t raise your game [to pitch] in the playoffs,” Montgomery remarked.
Yordan Alvarez, one of the best postseason hitters, was shut down by Montgomery. In his three plate appearances, he struck out Alvarez three times, making him the first pitcher to do so in a postseason and the first since Gerrit Cole on June 25, 2022.
In order to restrict an Astros lineup that came in with the top OPS in the Majors (.809) against lefties, Montgomery also mixed in his four-seam fastball at two crucial spots.
Montgomery outduels Alvarez
Dusty Baker, the manager of Houston, stated that Mike Maddux is “one of the best at game planning.”
Montgomery got Alvarez to whiff on a four-seamer for strike one during his first troublesome 28-pitch inning. Montgomery then got him to swing on a curveball for his second strikeout.
In the fourth inning, following three consecutive singles with no outs that sent Astros catcher Martín Maldonado to the plate, Montgomery resorted to his four-seam fastball. After Maddux visited the mound, he threw three straight and struck Maldonado out swinging on a high heater.
Jonah Heim on Montgomery’s start
Jonah Heim, the catcher, remarked after the game on the FOX broadcast, “Mike is a true wizard when he makes his mound visits.” “You never know what’s going to come your way. He can make you laugh or offer you words of support. He’s probably the most adept at soothing the pitcher so he can resume his duties.
They were able to get those base hits because we were caught in a small trap by going with the soft things. We returned to his area of expertise, which is placing some heaters there.
Montgomery stated that reestablishing contact with Maddux has been beneficial in terms of how the pitching coach perceives the movement of his stuff. Maddux gave Montgomery his due, praising him for making use of every instrument in his toolbox.
Bruce Bochy on Montgomery, win
When facing southpaws, the Astros lineup is among the most formidable in MLB.
Two of the top left-on-left hitters were outfielders Kyle Tucker (.934 OPS vs. lefties) and Alvarez (.892 OPS vs. lefties). One of the top hitters in the Majors versus lefties is fellow outfielder Chas McCormick (1.008 OPS vs. lefties).
With his reliable sinker, curveball, and four-seam fastball to keep hitters honest and off-balance, Montgomery, though, limited the trio to just one single in nine at-bats. With six strikeouts, he only gave up five hits (all singles) and one walk.