8:10 pm
June 15

Rangers @ Astros

Who will WIN this matchup?

Texas Rangers (25-41)

@ Houston Astros (37-28)

 

Starting Pitchers:

Gibson (TEX): 4-0; 2.13 ERA

McCullers Jr. (HOU) 3-1; 2.96 ERA

 

Current odds:

Texas Rangers: (+165)

Houston Astros: (-180)

 

• The Houston Astros capped a 6-3 road trip with a decisive victory over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, seemingly confirming their status as one of the best clubs in the majors. The Astros, set to open a two-game home series against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, won series against the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox and Minnesota and have claimed 10 of 14 games overall. The Astros’ plus-86 run differential was second in the American League to only to the Chicago White Sox’s plus-106 through the weekend.

• Right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. (3-1, 2.96 ERA) will be reinstated from the 10-day injured list to make his first start since May 22 on Tuesday. His last two starts prior to landing on the IL with shoulder discomfort came against the Rangers, with McCullers allowing three runs on 11 hits and six walks with 12 strikeouts over 11 innings while failing to earn a decision in either appearance. McCullers is 1-4 with a 3.88 ERA over 11 career starts against the Rangers.

• Right-hander Kyle Gibson (4-0, 2.13 ERA) will start the opener for the Rangers on Tuesday. He has just one decision, a victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on June 4, over his past six starts despite pitching to a 2.11 ERA. In consecutive starts against the Astros last month, Gibson allowed just three runs on eight hits and four walks with seven strikeouts over 13 innings, surrendering a .170 batting average yet notching a pair of no-decisions. Gibson is 4-2 with a 2.49 ERA over 11 career starts against the Astros, 2-2 with a 2.21 ERA in five starts in Houston.

• Since sweeping the Astros in a three-game set May 21-23, a series that included two walk-off, 10-inning wins, the Rangers are 3-14 and have fallen deep into the American League West cellar. Texas dropped a 5-3 decision to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday and is 0-5-1 over its past six series. An inability to capitalize on early opportunities against Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler proved critical for the Rangers in the series finale, with Buehler finding stability following a rocky first inning en route to the victory.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Houston Astros
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