Boston Red Sox vs. Houston Astros: How to watch ALCS | Schedule, TV channel, FREE live stream

Boston Red Sox's Xander Bogaerts high-fives teammates while being pushed in a laundry cart through the dugout.
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It’s the Boston Red Sox vs. the Houston Astros for the American League Championship Series (ALCS), and it all gets started on Friday, October 15 (10/15/2021) at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.

The ALCS will be broadcast nationally on FOX and FS1 networks, which can be streamed live on fuboTV, DirecTV Stream and other live TV services. Full schedule below.

The Red Sox arrived at the League Championships by beating the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 in the Divisional Series. Enrique Hernandez fired off a game-winning sacrifice fly in the ninth for a 6-5 win in Game 4. The Sox have now eliminated two favored teams, starting with the Yankees in the Wild Card game.

The Houston Astros have now made it to the ALCS for five seasons in a row — and won it twice — despite sanctions imposed in 2017 and 2018 for a sign-stealing scandal. The Astros beat the Chicago White Sox 3-1 with a 10-1 blowout in Game 4 to advance to the League Championships.

Here’s the full schedule for the 7-game American League Championship Series. All times ET:

*if necessary

Where can I live stream the ALCS for FREE?

The full series can be streamed live on fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV, each of which include a 1-week free trial. These services are available on Amazon Fire, Apple and Android devices, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku and more devices.

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Story by The Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) — It was the middle of the pandemic, the Boston Red Sox stunk, and with major league ballparks empty in 2020, they couldn’t even count on the crowd to get them going. During one especially humdrum road game at the Rays’ Tropicana Field, coach Jason Varitek suggested they needed to put some fun back into the game.

The words had barely left his lips when Christian Vázquez hit a homer. So backup catcher Kevin Plawecki grabbed a nearby laundry cart, waited for Vázquez to return to the dugout, and told him, “Hey, hop in.”

“We hadn’t talked about it — nothing,” Plawecki said on Wednesday. “He sat right in, and I pushed him. And ever since it’s been our thing, I guess.”

The 2004 Red Sox were “The Idiots.” In ‘13 they grew bushy beards. And if the 2021 team performs like its predecessors and wins the World Series, the lingering image could be “Tunnel Time” — the home run laundry cart drive through the dugout.

Started on a lark in a last-place season, the Red Sox have continued the celebration this year and ridden it all the way to a spot in the AL Championship Series, which begins Friday night in Houston.

“It looked great in a difficult season for them to be able to find something that’s fun, and be able to celebrate something in the game,” manager Alex Cora said. “It means a lot for them. For them to have fun with that, that’s great.”

Sports teams have long found unique ways to celebrate their wins and other milestones, from the now routine post-victory Gatorade bath to jackets or jewelry awarded for big plays.

Even in baseball, where traditionalists sneer at anything that might seem disrespectful or undignified, teams haven’t been afraid to show some personality.

The Phillies have a straw Home Run Hat, the Rockies have “homer shades,” and the Blue Jays have a blue blazer for members of their “HR Club.” The New York Mets ride a stuffed pony through the dugout to celebrate homers; the San Diego Padres pass around a seven-pound bejeweled necklace dubbed the " Swagg Chain.”

During their 2019 World Series run, Washington Nationals car buffs Adam Eaton and Howie Kendrick celebrated by pretending to drive in the dugout — stepping on an imaginary clutch, shifting fake gears and making loud revving engine noises with their mouths.

“Everybody’s got their own way of having fun. That’s what it’s all about,” Plawecki said in an on-field interview during batting practice at Fenway Park. “It’s not an ‘In your face’ to anybody. It’s just a way for us to have fun, keep it light.”

Boston’s cart is now a new, customized model that may never have been touched by actual laundry; it even had it’s own bobble head day (though the Red Sox will tell you that the giveaway honored J.D. Martinez, who was riding in it).

During the playoffs, infielder José Iglesias has taken responsibility for the “carrito,” and declared himself the official chauffeur. Acquired too late in the season to be eligible for the playoff roster, Iglesias said he was happy to contribute in the dugout, since he can’t on the field.

“It’s a good way for him to stay involved with the guys,” Plawecki said. “I know it kills him to not actually be out there with us. He’s such a help for all of us.”

Plawecki said he had no regrets about giving up his cart-driving duties. After all, the way the Red Sox are going, he needs to save his energy: Boston hit two homers in an AL wild-card victory over the rival Yankees and nine more in the four-game Division Series win over Tampa Bay — a franchise postseason record five of them in Game 2 alone.

“They kept me very, very busy,” Iglesias said. “And I hope I get busier over the course of the playoffs.”

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What is fuboTV?

FuboTV is an over-the-top internet live TV streaming service that offers more than 100 channels, like NFL Network, NBA TV, PAC 12 Networks and news, entertainment and local channels beyond that. It also offers DVR storage space, and is designed for people who want to cut the cord, but don’t want to miss out on their favorite live TV and sports.

It also has its own fubo Sports Network, featuring original programming and select exclusive live sports events.

FuboTV is accessible on Amazon Fire, Apple, Android, Chromecast, Roku and Apple TV.

How much does fuboTV cost?

The cheapest option is the family package at $64.99 per month that includes 120 channels, 250 hours of DVR space and can be used on three screens at once.

The fubo Elite package is $79.99 per month, and offers more than 170 channels, including Showtime channels, extra sports channels and extra news and entertainment channels.

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