HOUSTON (AP) — For the second time in four seasons, the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros are set to play for the American League pennant. The best-of-seven AL Championship Series opens in Houston with left-hander Framber Valdez (11-6, 3.14 ERA) on the mound for the Astros against scuffling ace Chris Sale (5-1, 3.16).

Boston beat Houston 4-1 in the 2018 ALCS on the way to a World Series title. That came one year after the Astros downed the Red Sox 3-1 in a Division Series en route to their only World Series crown.

Boston manager Alex Cora was the bench coach for that championship Houston club before guiding the Red Sox to their 2018 title. A little more than a year later, he was let go by Boston and suspended by Major League Baseball through the 2020 postseason for his role in Houston’s illegal 2017 sign-stealing scheme. Cora was then rehired by the Red Sox in November.

Sale said he’s been on the mound every day since his one-inning playoff flop against Tampa Bay last week trying to iron some things out. He believes he’s rediscovered a changeup that was missing against the Rays and that he’s solved the problems commanding his fastball.

“We’ll see what we get,” Sale said. “But I like where we’re at.”

The ALCS schedule is as follows:

  • Game 1 – Friday, Oct. 15 – Red Socks at Astros – 7:07 p.m. CDT
  • Game 2 – Saturday, Oct. 16 – Red Socks at Astros – 3:20 p.m. CDT
  • Game 3 – Monday, Oct. 18 – Astros at Red Sox – 7:07 p.m. CDT
  • Game 4 – Tuesday, Oct. 19 – Astros at Red Sox – TBD
  • Game 5 – Wednesday, Oct. 20 – Astros at Red Sox* – TBD
  • Game 6 – Friday, Oct. 22 – Red Socks at Astros* – TBD
  • Game 7 – Saturday, Oct. 23 – Red Socks at Astros* - TBD

*If necessary