8:05 pm
June 8

Astros @ Rangers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Houston Astros (39-25)

@ Texas Rangers (27-38)

 

Starting Pitchers:

Verlander (HOU): 7-2; 1.24 ERA

Fister (TEX) 1-6; 4.13 ERA

 

Last 10 Games Played:

Houston Astros: 5-5

Texas Rangers: 5-5

 

Current odds:

Houston Astros: (-200)

Texas Rangers: (+170)

 

• Justin Verlander looks for his fourth consecutive victory when the Houston Astros visit the Texas Rangers on Friday for the second contest of their four-game series. Verlander leads the major leagues with a 1.24 ERA but is just 1-1 in three starts versus the Rangers this season despite allowing only two runs and eight hits in 20 innings. Verlander is a stellar 5-1 with a 0.44 ERA in six road starts this season, limiting opponents to a .164 batting average in those contests. Evan Gattis homered and recorded three RBIs in Thursday’s 5-2 victory, giving him six shots over his last 10 games.

• The Rangers erupted for 15 runs in back-to-back victories over Oakland before recording just three hits over six innings against Astros starter Gerrit Cole in the opener. Shin-Soo Choo collected two hits on Thursday for his third multi-hit performance in six contests.

• Verlander has struck out 23 and walked just five in his three turns against the Rangers, with the victory coming in his first start of the campaign. The 35-year-old allowed two runs in 21 2/3 innings during a three-start winning streak before settling for a no-decision against Boston in his last turn, when he gave up two runs and three hits over six frames. Verlander is 12-7 with a 2.72 ERA in 23 career starts against the Rangers and regularly has frustrated Choo (13-for-74, two homers, 33 strikeouts).

• Fister defeated Houston in his club debut on March 30 and has gone 0-6 in 10 starts since. The 34-year-old lost to the Astros on May 12, dropping to 2-2 with a 3.34 ERA in five career starts against Houston. Fister lost to the Los Angeles Angels in his last outing as he gave up three runs and four hits over six innings.

• Astros SS Carlos Correa (side) sat out Thursday’s contest after suffering the injury one night earlier.

• Texas GM Jon Daniels, in his 13th season running the team, agreed to a multi-year contract extension on Thursday.

• Houston 2B Jose Altuve went 3-for-4 with two runs scored on Thursday and is 8-for-19 during his five-game hitting streak.

7/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Houston Astros
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