The Houston Astros are still on top of the American League West division and remain as a clear contender to win the 2019 World Series. It’s a different story for the Rangers, who are having a hard time keeping up with the top dogs in the AL West. The Astros are +210 to win the World Series, while the Rangers are +2500 to win the division. Will this lopsided in-state rivalry play out as expected, or will the Rangers surprise the Astros with a win or two?
Starters: Mike Minor (8-4, 2.73 ERA) vs. Justin Verlander (11-4, 2.98 ERA)
Pitching:
Minor had a major headache in his last start against the same team he’ll face in this game. He allowed four earned runs on seven hits, but struck out seven hitters, in a 7-5 home loss to the Astros on Jul. 13. He is 1-1 with a 3.71 ERA in three starts this season against Houston. Verlander had a good showing on Ju; 14, limiting the Rangers to only two earned runs on four hits with seven punchouts in a 12-4 road win on Jul. 14. He is 3-2 with a 2.95 ERA in eight starts at home this season.
Hitting
Elvis Andrus is 19-for-29 in career vs. Verlander
George Springer is 9-for-22 in career vs. Minor.
Prediction:Astros win, 6-3.
GAME 2
Starters: Ariel Jurado (5-5, 4.63 ERA) vs. TBA
Pitching:
Jurado is still searching for his first win of the month of July. In his last start, he allowed five earned runs on seven hits during a 12-4 home loss to the Astros on Jul. 14. He is 0-2 with an n 8.03 ERA across 12.1 innings so far this month. The Astros’ pitching staff has impressive collecting opponents batting average of .223 — tops in the American League.
Hitting
Elvis Andrus is batting .315 on the road this season.
Lynn had his five-start winning streak snapped in his last start, wherein he allowed five earned runs on eight hits in 6.0 innings of a 9-2 home loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Jul. 16. Still, he is 2-1 with a 3.15 ERA in three starts this July. Armenteros will make his first start of his career this weekend. In his last mound appearance, he held the Los Angeles Angels scoreless on the road during a four-inning relief job in a 7-2 road loss on Jul. 16.
Hitting
Joey Gallo leads the Rangers with 22 homers to date.
