Astros face early exit in AL Wild Card Game 2, airing on ABC13; Alex Bregman could play the last game with Houston

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — “It can’t end so soon, can it?”

That's a question Astros fans may be asking themselves as their team faces an elimination game Wednesday afternoon in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Detroit Tigers, who tamed the seven-time AL Championship Series finalists in Tuesday's opener.

SEE ALSO: The Houston Astros enter a rare early elimination game after losing their Wild Card opener to the Detroit Tigers

The 'Stros have several things at stake beyond their improbable division-winning season.

Eyewitness Sports lays the foundation for Houston's fight for survival, two games into the 2024 postseason.

Where can I watch AL Wild Card Game 2?

ABC13 is the broadcast site for the Astros in the AL Wild Card Series. In the Houston area you can watch channel 13 on TV.

You can stream ABC13 if you have that too Hulu + Live TV.

What time does the game start?

ESPN on ABC coverage on ABC13 begins Wednesday at 1 p.m. First pitch is 30 minutes later.

How many wins does it take to advance to the AL Division Series?

This AL Wild Card Series – one of two in this round – requires two wins from three games, all played at the home stadium of the higher seed.

With a win in Game 2, the Tigers can advance to the ALDS on Wednesday. Otherwise, Houston could force a decisive Game 3 on Thursday. The Astros need to win two games in a row to get out of the Wild Card Series.

The winner will take on the Cleveland Guardians starting Saturday.

What storylines can be seen in Game 2?

Alex Bregman’s last “Stros game”?

The star third baseman has earned World Series titles and All-Star honors since being called up to the big leagues in 2016.

Bregman, 30, is ending a contract that paid him $30.5 million last year and this year. He will become a free agent once the Astros begin the offseason and is expected to receive a contract well in excess of his multimillion-dollar salary.

Whether the Astros will offer big money to keep Bregman remains to be seen, but fans assumed his days in Houston were coming to an end. The crowd at Minute Maid Park gave Bregman an ovation when the Astros subbed him in the team's final home game of the regular season.

An Astros win on Tuesday extends his stay by at least one more game.

This scenario also applies to 41-year-old pitcher Justin Verlander, whose 2025 option did not exercise due to a lack of innings pitched. He could leave Houston without playing a game for the Astros this postseason.

A kid from Detroit against the Tigers

Astros manager Joe Espada decided to use Hunter Brown on the mound to keep the season alive.

The 11-win starting pitcher established himself as a solid rotation player in 2024 for seasons to come, but his biggest test during his short stay in Houston will be taming the Tigers' hitters in an elimination game.

Brown, 26, is a Detroit native who grew up a Tigers fan and idolized former Detroit star Justin Verlander.

Brown has thrown 10.2 innings in seven playoff games since 2022, but Wednesday will be his first postseason start.

The Tigers counter with a bullpen game with relief pitcher Tyler Holton opening.

Astros have been here before

Despite the loss in Game 1 ESPN bet still favors Houston in Game 2.

The Astros have a 9-8 record in postseason elimination games since 2015.

The last time Houston won an elimination game only to force another immediately after was in the 2020 AL Championship Series, when the Astros lost the first three games but won the next three to take Game 7 against the Tampa Bay Rays force.

SEE MORE: 2024 Astros take fans on a roller coaster ride: 5 defining moments from the unlikely division champs