The Houston Astros head to Texas to take on the Rangers in a 3-game series starting Tuesday evening. The Astros continue to be one of the best teams in baseball posting a 82-47 to top the AL West, the Rangers coming in 3rd with 58-69. Here is my complete prediction and breakdown.
Valdez and Astros Going For A Ring
The Houston Astros avoided a sweep with a 3-1 win over the Orioles on Sunday, only managing 4 runs in the entire series. Prior to that they won 4-straight games against the Braves and Twins.
For the season the Astros have been lights-out, scoring 4.5 runs per game and allowing just 3.3. This season the Astros are 10-4 against the Rangers this season and Kyle Tucker has been the beneficiary of the Rangers pitching collecting 16 RBI’s and a 1.03 OPS.
Taking the mound for the Astros in this one is left-hander Rambler Valdez, who is having a stellar season. Coming into this one Rambler is posting a 13-4 record on 156 innings of work, all coming together for 2.65 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 142 K’s. He has gone 7.0 innings in each of his last 3 starts allowing just 3 runs total in those 21 innings. Valdez has silenced the Rangers this season, amassing a minuscule 0.45 ERA in three meetings, and is 5-2 with a 2.41 ERA in 52.1 career innings.
Rangers Look to Avoid 3-Game Losing Streak
The Texas Rangers are having a below .500 season, and haven’t been able to turn this around all season. What is amazing about the Rangers is they are scoring the 6th most runs per game this season with 4.6. The problem is they are allowing the 20th most with 4.5 runs per game.
For the season the Rangers pitching staff has struggled, posting a combined 4.10 ERA and 1.30 WHIP good for 21st and 22nd in the league respectively. Texas was dealt an ugly series loss against the Tigers this past weekend, allowing 26 runs in the series.
The offense continues to carry the Rangers to the little success they have had. Nathaniel Lowe is the hottest hitter in the lineup slotting 5-homers and 12 RBI’s in his last six games.
Taking the mound for the Rangers is 27-year-old Dane Dunning. The right-hander has struggled this season posting a 3-6 record over 129 innings on the mound, for a 4.19 ERA and 1.37 WHIP. He has however pitched well against the Astros this season allowing just 2 runs in the 11.2 innings he’s played.
Domination Continues
Whilst the Astros aren’t coming into this one on a huge winning streak they have been completely dominate over the Rangers this season. I am more than happy to take the steep price and back them here to win another. Frambler has been lights-out against the Rangers so far this season, combined with the fact that Texas’s pitching continues to struggle I am taking advantage of the value on the Astros.
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