Astros tab Keuchel for Game 1, Verlander for Game 2 of World Series

As the Houston Astros celebrated clinching their club's first American League pennant, manager A.J. Hinch confirmed Dallas Keuchel will take the ball for Game 1 of the World Series while Justin Verlander gets the nod for Game 2, according to Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will send ace Clayton Kershaw to the mound for Game 1 of the Fall Classic in Los Angeles.

Keuchel has managed 17 1/3 innings over three starts this postseason, recording a 2.60 ERA and holding opponents to a .268 OBP. The 29-year-old left-hander returned to his 2015 AL Cy Young form during the regular season, posting a 2.90 ERA and 1.12 WHIP, but missed time with a neck injury.

Meanwhile, Verlander just wrapped up an MVP effort in the ALCS, authoring an ERA of 0.56 over 16 innings against the New York Yankees. The 34-year-old right-hander was famously acquired moments before the waiver trade deadline expired and has been immaculate with the Astros: In nine starts with Houston, including the playoffs, Verlander has gone 9-0.