Astros-Red Sox Playoff Times Set For ALDS At Minute Maid Park

HOUSTON, TX — The road to the World Series starts Thursday as the Houston Astros will host the Boston Red Sox the first two games of the American League Division Series. Major League Baseball announced the game times of Games 1 and 2 in Houston, and Minute Maid Park will get a pair of day games.

Game 1 of the ALDS will begin at 3 p.m. on Thursday, and Game 2 will start at 1 p.m. Friday. The Astros finished the MLB regular season with a 101-61 record, which was second-best in the AL behind the top-seeded Cleveland Indians (102-60). The Red Sox own the third-best record at 93-69. Both of the first two games will be aired live in the FS1 Network and MLB Network.

The Astros will play at Boston for Game 3 on Sunday and again on Monday (Oct. 9) if necessary. Should the teams split their four games, a deciding fifth game will be played back in Houston on Wednesday, Oct. 11. Ticket information and purchase can be found on the Astros' website.

The American League playoffs kickoff Tuesday night with a one-game winner-move-on Wild Card Game with the Minnesota Twins at the New York Yankees. The winner of that game move on to the ALDS against the Indians, with Game 1 on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

All division series in both the American and National leagues will be a best-of-5 series. Winners advance to the AL and NL Championship Series, which is a best-of-7 series.

AL Wild Card Game

Tuesday, Oct. 3 — Minnesota Twins at New York Yankees, 7 p.m.

American League Division Series

THURSDAY, OCT. 5

Red Sox at Astros, Game 1, 4 p.m. ET, FS1 or MLBN

WC winner at Indians, Game 1, 7:30 p.m. ET, FS1 or MLBN

FRIDAY, OCT. 6

Red Sox at Astros, Game 2, 2 p.m. ET, FS1 or MLBN

WC winner at Indians, Game 2, 5 p.m. ET, FS1 or MLBN

SUNDAY, OCT. 8

Indians at WC winner, Game 3, FS1 or MLBN

MONDAY, OCT. 9

Astros at Red Sox, Game 4*, FS1

Indians at WC winner, Game 4*, FS1

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 11

Red Sox at Astros, Game 5*, FS1

WC winner at Indians, Game 5*, FS1

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NL Wild Card Game

Wednesday, Oct. 4 — Colorado Rockies at Arizona Diamondbacks, 7 p.m.

National League Division Series

FRIDAY, OCT. 6

Cubs at Nationals, Game 1, 7:30 p.m. ET, TBS

WC winner at Dodgers, Game 1, 10:31 p.m. ET, TBS

SATURDAY, OCT. 7

Cubs at Nationals, Game 2, 5:30 p.m. ET, TBS

WC winner at Dodgers, Game 2, 9 p.m. ET, TBS

MONDAY, OCT. 9

Nationals at Cubs, Game 3, TBS

Dodgers at WC winner, Game 3, TBS

TUESDAY, OCT. 10

Nationals at Cubs, Game 4*, TBS

Dodgers at WC winner, Game 4*, TBS

THURSDAY, OCT. 12

Cubs at Nationals, Game 5*, TBS

WC winner at Dodgers, Game 5*, TBS

* If necessary

Top image: Lance McCullers Jr. (43) of the Houston Astros pitches in the bottom of the first inning during the game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on September 30, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images