MLB Postseason: Jordan Montgomery continues to dominate American League Playoffs, will pitch when his team needs him most

The Texas Rangers’ acquisition of Jordan Montgomery at the trade deadline signified that the franchise was ready to go “all in” on a championship in 2023. So far in the MLB Postseason, the plan has worked for the Rangers as they are two wins away from the World Series.

A year after signing big-name free agents Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, Texas traded for Montgomery and Max Scherzer, and the moves have paid off in a big way.

In the Wildcard Round, the Rangers swept the Tampa Bay Rays behind a shutdown effort from Montgomery who threw 7 innings of shutout ball. In the Divisional Round, the Rangers swept the 1-seed Baltimore Orioles. Montgomery got the start in the Game 2 victory over Baltimore.

Then, Sunday night happened. In Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, Montgomery toed the rubber again for the Rangers and delivered a gem. Over 6 1/3 innings, Montgomery gave up zero runs in the Rangers’ 2-0 victory. He became the first Texas pitcher to ever pitch two 6-inning, 0-run MLB Postseason games in his career, and he accomplished the feat in his first playoff appearance with the team.

The Rangers entered the series against the Rays as a road underdog. They won. The Rangers entered the series against the Orioles as a road underdog. They won again. The Rangers entered the series against the Astors as a road underdog. Can they do it again? Now tied 2-2, Texas will turn to Montgomery to push them back into the series lead.

The Rangers and the Astros will play again on Friday at 5:00 on FS1 before the series returns to Houston. The winner of this best-of-seven series will play in the World Series against the winner of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies.

Fellow South Carolina baseball great Christian Walker stars for the Diamondbacks, and an Arizona victory in the National League Championship Series (they currently trail the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 in the series) would see the former Gamecock teammates match up in the World Series.