The American League Championship Series will culminate on Monday night with a highly anticipated Game 7 showdown between the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers. Sunday night's Game 6 saw the Rangers emerge victorious with a 9-2 win, led by a strong start from Nathan Eovaldi and timely hitting. Despite the loss, the Astros still have one last chance to secure their third consecutive pennant. Meanwhile, the Rangers are eager to make their third-ever trip to the World Series, their first since 2011.

Facing off in Monday night's pitching matchup will be Max Scherzer, who was acquired by the Rangers at the trade deadline, and Cristian Javier for the Astros. This will be a repeat of their Game 3 clash, which the Astros won by an 8-5 margin, giving the Rangers a 2-1 advantage in the series at the time.

However, all eyes will be on Max Scherzer as he takes the mound for Game 7. Scherzer's start in Game 3 was his first appearance since September 12, when he suffered a strained teres major muscle in his right shoulder. Recovering in an impressive five weeks, Scherzer's performance in Game 3 may not have matched his regular standards. He allowed five runs on five hits and a walk, striking out four batters in four innings of work and ultimately receiving the loss.

Despite the mixed results, the Rangers can be encouraged by the performance of Scherzer's fastball, which averaged 94.1 mph, almost a half tick better than his regular-season mark. Additionally, it featured nearly an inch more "rise." The Astros managed to record three hits off Scherzer's fastball, including a home run from José Altuve, but the Rangers are hopeful that Scherzer's fastball will produce better results in the crucial Game 7.

The series has seen an unusual pattern, with the road teams winning all six previous games. There has only been one instance in MLB postseason history where the visiting team has won every game in a seven-game series, and that was in the 2019 World Series when the Washington Nationals defeated the Astros. Notably, Scherzer started Game 7 of that series, pitching five innings and allowing two runs on seven hits and four walks. Despite a relatively modest performance, the Nationals emerged victorious with a 6-2 win, securing their first-ever World Series title.

Coincidentally, Scherzer's physical condition was also a concern heading into that decisive Game 7 in 2019, as he had previously dealt with a neck issue during the series. Now, facing a similar situation with the Rangers, Scherzer will look to overcome any lingering concerns and deliver a strong performance.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy is prepared to be aggressive with his bullpen in Game 7 if Scherzer shows any signs of struggle. The bullpen is in excellent shape, with just three relievers being used in Game 6, including setup man Josh Sborz, closer Jose Leclerc, and Andrew Heaney, who started Game 4 but struggled in the first inning.

As the stage is set for a thrilling Game 7, both teams are aware of the stakes and the history that hangs in the balance. While the Astros aim to continue their dominance in the American League, the Rangers are hungry for a return to the World Series. With Max Scherzer taking the mound, all eyes will be on the future Hall of Famer as he leads the Rangers in a pivotal battle for the AL pennant.