Astros vs Rangers Betting Preview: Texas Teams Clash
Texas Needs to Make Up Ground
The Houston Astros (57-54) visit the Texas Rangers (53-59) for a three-game series starting Monday. The Astros trail Seattle by one game in the AL West and are 5.0 games out in the wild card race. Texas is 5.5 games behind Seattle and 9.5 games back in the wild card standings. The Rangers have been decent at home, so this is a chance to gain some ground on at least one of the teams ahead of them in the MLB standings. The Astros vs Rangers betting preview sees Houston and Hunter Brown at -126 over the Rangers and Andrew Heaney on Monday. The total is 8.5-under (-115).
The Houston offense isn’t bad. The Astros are No. 3 in team batting average and rank No. 16 in home runs. The team is scoring 4.6 runs per game, which is a little better than the league average of 4.4 runs. Houston does take a slight dip in the road, where the team is averaging 4.1 runs per game.
The Astros are No. 14 in team ERA with a 4.00. The relief pitchers have 27 saves in 42 opportunities and the bullpen ranks No. 9 in bullpen ERA. Houston is a little better than average on the mound.
The Rangers aren’t pitching that well and rank No. 21 in team ERA at 4.23. Texas relief pitchers have 24 saves in 37 attempts. The Rangers rank No. 28 in bullpen ERA.
Texas is No. 19 in team batting average and No. 17 in home runs. The Rangers score 4.2 runs per game at home or on the road. Texas is scoring 3.9 runs per game when facing a left-handed starter.
Astros vs Rangers 
📊Records: Huston Astros (57-54)/ Texas Rangers (53-59)
⏰Day/Time: 📍Location: Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas
📺Streaming: BSSW
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Monday’s Game
Brown hasn’t pitched poorly for the Astros, going 9-7 with a 4.11 ERA. Houston is 10-11 when he starts and 8-13 in totals. The Astros are scoring just 3.8 runs per game with Brown on the hill. Houston has won five of his last six road starts after dropping the first for.
Heaney has nearly an identical ERA as Brown but is just 4-11 with his 4.12 ERA. Texas is just 6-15 when he starts. Lack of offense is one reason for that poor record, as the Rangers are scoring just 3.3 runs per game with Heaney on the mound. At home, Texas is scoring just 3.0 runs when Heaney starts and is 3-5.
The moneyline price on the Astros is reasonable, considering the difference in records, although one of the MLB best bets today is likely the under 8.5. Both pitchers don’t get much run support and have been decent under pitchers this year.
Tuesday’s Game
The Astros vs Rangers betting preview shows Houston is going to start Framber Valdez in this one. The Rangers are hoping to go with Tyler Mahle, although that will be determined by how he feels after his most recent rehab start.
If he can’t go, the injury to Max Scherzer means Texas will have to call-up somebody from its MLB pipeline to make the start. The Rangers have a few decent arms in the minor leagues, but most are at least a year away. MLB injuries have limited Mahle to just nine starts since the beginning of the 2022 season.
Valdez is 10-5 with a 3.56 ERA for the Astros, who are 12-7 when he starts. Houston is 6-12-1 in totals and 2-6 in totals when he starts on the road. The Astros have won the last three road games Valdez has started and are 5-3 for the season.
Mahle hasn’t looked bad in his rehab starts, as he comes back from last year’s Tommy John surgery. There are still a lot of unknowns, which makes it tough to bet on him. He’s under contract next season, as well, so Texas is playing it safe with him, along with Jacob deGrom. You can’t blame them.
Houston is going to be favored in this one, as you don’t really know what you’re going to get out of Texas. It’s probably best to stay clear of this one.
Wednesday’s Game
The Astros vs Rangers betting preview has Yusei Kikuchi starting for the Astros and Jose Urena should get another start for the Rangers. Kikuchi was decent in his first start for Houston after coming over from Toronto. His season numbers are still a bit ugly, as he’s 4-9 with a 4.67 ERA. Maybe being in an MLB playoff chase will bring the best in him out.
Urena has been used as a starter and a reliever this season and is quietly having a decent year. He’s appeared in 26 games and has a 3.70 ERA. His last start wasn’t that impressive, but the injuries to Scherzer and Jon Gray probably don’t leave the Rangers too many options here.
This is one of the more unpredictable games on today’s MLB schedule. Either pitcher could turn in a solid effort, but it wouldn’t be a shock to see them getting pulled in the fourth inning. The total is going to be high in this one, but we think the under could be the way to go.
Astros vs Rangers Betting Odds
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