The Lone Star State battle decided the AL West last season. The Astros have plenty of work to do if they want to make it mean something this year. Houston has floundered near the bottom of the standings all season while the Rangers are staring down at the rest of the division.
You can bet on MLB odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
ODDS ANALYSIS
So much was expected of the Astros in 2016 after the franchise rebirth and wild card playoff victory last year. It just hasn’t happened and last place in the AL West has been theirs for most of the year. The hole the Astros dug themselves may prove to be too deep, but there’s a strong core here that should allow Houston to compete again as the season progresses. And that’s the thing about the Astros current model. They may strike out a lot, but the next home run is right around the corner.
The Rangers dominated Houston last season and finished two games better than the Astros to win the AL West. That dominance continued when the teams met earlier this season. Texas won 13 of 19 against their in-state competitor to finish first in the division, a spot the Astros clung to most of the year. Texas swept the Stros in Arlington in mid-April.
PROBABLE PITCHERS
Colby Lewis (2-0, 3.12 ERA) turned in a nice start Saturday against the Blue Jays, allowing two runs on four hits with six strikeouts over seven innings. He left the game with a three run lead, but was denied the victory when Shawn Tolleson blew the save in the ninth inning. Lewis is 1-0 with a 2.89 ERA in his last four starts, pitching seven innings each time.
Lewis has now thrown five straight quality starts and boasts a solid 3.12 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. He was 4-0 in five starts against the Astros last year and is 9-1 with a 2.71 ERA in 12 starts against them since 2010.
Lance McCullers (0-0, 9.64 ERA) struggled in his season debut Friday, giving up five runs on seven hits and three walks over 4.2 innings to the Red Sox. All the runs scored in a 34-pitch second inning. It was a tough matchup for his first start back after a shoulder scare in the spring and the weather didn’t help.
The young right-hander will have another difficult challenge against the Rangers. McCullers was 0-2 with a 12.79 ERA in two starts against them last season, allowing nine runs and 12 hits in just 6.1 innings.
LIVE BETTING
It’s hard to imagine a guy standing 5-foot-6 being among the league leaders in home runs. Houston’s Jose Altuve is baseball’s most diminutive player and established his career as a player who can steal bases and hit for a high average. And he’s done that quite well. But there’s also a new angle to his development, one that many never saw coming.
Altuve is also a power hitter who has as many homers as Josh Donaldson and more than Albert Pujols, Paul Goldschmidt or Mike Trout. Small stature or not, Altuve is crushing baseballs like the most elite hitters in the game, and it’s turned him into a superstar. Ok, it’s only mid-May and unlikely that he’ll maintain this pace and end up with 36 home runs, but he leads the team in average and steals while adding another dimension.
QUICK PICK
There’s reason to believe the Astros could claw their way back into the AL West as the season goes on, but the clock is ticking. Two players – starter Dallas Keuchel and outfielder Carlos Gomez – are examples of what’s wrong with Houston and could have a big say in such a comeback if they can manage to fix what’s wrong. Getting McCullers, who is expected to be an anchor on the staff, back in the rotation should help, but it’ll take some time to get used to big league hitting again. He was rocked in his first outing last week and things won’t get much better against the Rangers.
MLB Odds: Texas 6, Houston 4
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The ballgame pitting the Texas Rangers versus the Houston Astros will commence Friday, May 20, 2016, at 8:10 p.m. ET at Minute Maid Park. You can watch the contest live on the MLB Network.
