The Houston Astros will go on the road to play the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night in their MLB Playoffs 2015 series. Game 1 of the ALDS should be a close affair, and both teams will be desperate to win this opener in a shorter best of five series. Today's game has a scheduled start time of 7.30 p.m. ET and takes place from the Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. The game can be watched on TV on the Fox Sports 1 network or online through live stream via the link below.

FOR GAME 5 LIVE STREAM & PREVIEW FOR HOUSTON ASTROS vs KANSAS CITY ROYALS - CLICK HERE

The Astros made it here by defeating the New York Yankees in the Wild Card game earlier this week. That means for tonight's game we can expect a starting pitcher line up of Collin McHugh vs Yordano Ventura.

Astros' McHugh posted a 3.11 ERA over his final 14 starts in the season, and will need to be at his best and deal with the pressure if Houston are to start their series with a win.

In his final game of the regular season, McHugh put on a strong performance, and over seven innings on the mound he allowed just one earned run and six hits and walk, where as he struck out six in the 6-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

That was his sixth win from his last seven outings, and he will be hoping to continue that positive trend with another win today.

FOR GAME 5 LIVE STREAM & PREVIEW FOR HOUSTON ASTROS vs KANSAS CITY ROYALS - CLICK HERE

Meanwhile, Ventura has worked hard this season, and if he can put on a top performance he could swing things the Royals' way. Ventura posted a 4.08 ERA in 2015, with a 13-8 record. He pitched for 163.1 innings, allowing 154 hits and 75 runs, 14 of them coming by way of home runs. Overall he managed to post 156 SO's.

Today's big MLB Playoffs 2015 Game 1 of the ALDS between the Houston Astros and the Kansas City Royals has a scheduled start time of 7.30 p.m. ET and can be watched on TV on the Fox Sports 1 network or online through live stream by clicking here.