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Rangers vs Astros Predictions, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds & Picks, Aug. 9

Intrastate/Division Rivals Begin Series in Houston

Houston’s Two-Game Skid

The Houston Astros look to avoid a third straight loss Tuesday, hosting the Texas Rangers in the first of a three-game intrastate series between division rivals. Houston dropped the final two games against the Cleveland Guardians, though stilling leads the AL West by a comfy 11½ games over the Seattle Mariners. Texas lost five of its last seven, in third place but 21 games in arrears of the Astros. These foes have already played 11 times this season, so read our in-depth preview before you bet online on the series opener.

Check the latest MLB news, stats, injury reports, and MLB odds for Rangers vs Astros. There are plenty of MLB picks & predictions.

Rangers vs Astros Predictions, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds & Picks Aug. 9

Rangers Inconsistent At Plate

try to figure if the Texas Rangers were going to be scoring, or not scoring. Over a three-game span, they went from managing one run in a losing effort, then eight runs in a win, then two runs in an ugly loss. Needless to say, more consistency at the plate is needed for the Rangers, which is one reason they’re well below .500.

First baseman Nathaniel Lowe provided the Sunday offense, 3-for-5 with a homer and two RBIs in the 8-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox. He is batting .285 with 18 doubles, two triples, 16 home runs, 47 RBIs and 48 runs scored.

Outfielder Adolis Garcia was 1-for-4 in the finale sunday, extending his hitting streak to five games. He had five RBIs in the team’s biggest offensive game of the series, showing his importance to the Rangers’ success. Garcia is batting .247 with 21 doubles, four triples, 18 home runs, 70 RBIs and 58 runs scored this season.

Lefthander Martin Perez starts in Tuesday’s series opener. Perez is 9-2 with a 2.47 ERA (eighth in baseball) in 21 starts, 116 strikeouts in 131 innings. He has been hot of late, having surrendered just four earned runs over his last four starts (25 innings, 30 strikeouts, 12 walks).

Offense AWOL for ‘Stros In Losses

The Houston Astros had trouble putting runs on the board in the last two games against the Cleveland Guardians, just one run while losing twice. Those losses came at the end of a span of 19 games in 18 days since the All-Star break, so the Astros are hopeful Monday’s off-days re-energizes the team..

“This is what August and September will do,” acting manager Joe Espada said after the loss Sunday (manager Dusty Baker tested positive for COVID-19 and missed the Cleveland series). “We’re competing for a pennant and guys are tired. The most important thing is that we show up and compete.”

Righty Jose Urquidy is making his 21st start of the season to start off this series. Urquidy is 10-4 with a 3.62 ERA, striking out 90 over 114⅓ innings. He’s coming off an excellent start in his last out, seven shutout innings against the Boston Red Sox last Wednesday (just two hits, striking out 10 and no walks).

Outfielder Trey Mancini had one of the Astros’ two hits in the loss Sunday. The newly-acquired Mancini is batting .222 in six games with Houston, three of his four hits being homers He has driven in seven runs and scored thrice.

Designated hitter Yordan Alvarez went 0-for-6 over the last two games of the series with Cleveland. He’s batting .300 and is third in baseball with 30 homers. He is leading the team with 73 RBIs and his 69 runs.

Rangers vs Astros Head-To-Head

The Houston Astros have dominated the season series against the Texas Rangers, taking eight of the first 11 games in 2022. Houston is going for its fifth season series win in six years, the other series ending, 5-5.

Playing at home has been good for the Astros, as they are 25-3 against the Rangers at Minute Maid Park since the start of 2019. The MLB lines for Tuesday’s series opener suggest that success is continuing, favoring Houston to come away with the win.

Rangers vs Astros Game Information

  • Game: Rangers (48-60) vs Astros (70-40)
  • Location: Minute Maid Park, Houston, T
  • Day/Time: Tuesday Aug. 9th, 8:10 p.m. ET
  • Rangers vs Astros Live Stream: MLB.tv

Rangers vs Astros Betting Lines

Team RunLine Moneyline Total Team Total
Texas Rangers

M. Perez -L

+1½ -140 +160 7½-120o 3½+110o

3½-140u

Houston Astros

J. Urquidy -R

-1½ +120 -180 7½Evu 4½-105o

4½-125u

Rangers vs Astros Prediction

Texas hasn’t had a whole lot of offense in recent games, and they’re now seeing a hot pitcher in Urquidy. The Houston Astros are hoping their bats awaken as well, and they should have come away with a victory.

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