The Houston Astros will play the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night in Game 5 of their AL Division Series. The reward for the winner of today's crunch game will be a place in the next round of the MLB Playoffs 2015, but for the loser it will be the end of their season. The game has a scheduled start time of 8 p.m. ET and takes place from Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The game can be watched on TV on the Fox Sports 1 network, or online through live stream via the link below.
After four games of this ALDS there is still nothing between these teams and they are deadlocked at 2-2 of this best of five series.
The Astros were looking like favorites to progress, but a 9-6 defeat in Game 4 has plunged them into a winner takes all situation in Game 5.
How much that Game 4 defeat will affect the Houston team remains to be seen, but Astros' manager AJ Hinch believes that his team will bounce back.
He has said ahead of today's game: "One thing that's been very consistent throughout the year is our ability to turn the page and wash off any of the stink of things that don't go our way."
He added, "So I knew that the flight would be that way. We showed up, got to our hotels, woke up this morning, the sun came out, beautiful day in Kansas City. We'll be ready to play.
"The mood is great. We have played 167 games to get to this point, and we have won a lot of them. We have a big one tomorrow. Everybody knows that, and our guys are ready. So they're very upbeat."
Royals managed Ned Yost has also said his team won't be relying on the Astros being disheartened and down for today's game: "I don't think that that [Game 4] is going to affect them in any shape or form. That's what happens with young teams. They get in, they get comfortable, and then they use their extreme talent to play the game hard, and to play the game successfully. So we expect to have our hands full."
Going out to the mound today will be Collin McHugh for the Astros and Johnny Cueto for the Royals.
McHugh has already gotten the better of the Royals in this series, helping Houston claim Game 1 with two runs allowed in his six innings pitched. Meanwhile, Cueto started Game 2 for the Royals, which was won by Kansas City, although Cueto allowed four runs over his six innings at that time.
Today's massive MLB Playoffs 2015 ALDS Game 5 between the Houston Astros and the Kansas City Royals has a start time of 8 p.m. ET and can be watched on TV on the Fox Sports 1 network or online through live stream by clicking here.
