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The 11-15 Texas Rangers battle the 17-9 Houston Astros in the 2nd game of a four-game set at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas tonight. The first pitch at Minute Maid Park is scheduled for 8:10 PM ET. The host Astros are a -140 moneyline favorite over the visiting Rangers with the total line be listed at 8.5 runs.
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In Game 1 of this series the Astros beat the Rangers 6-2. In the game, where benches cleared after Houston’s Lance McCullers Jr. threw behind a batter in the 6th inning, the Astros scored six runs on eight hits and the Rangers scored two runs on six hits.
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This season the Rangers rank tied for 12th in the Majors in runs scored and 10th in team ERA.
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The Astros rank tied for 9th in the Majors in runs scored and 2nd in team ERA.
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<h2>
Pitching Match Up<br />
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<p>
Texas: Cole Hamels (2-0, 3.03 ERA)<br />
Houston: Mike Fiers (0-1, 5.12 ERA)
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<p>
Cole Hamels goes for the Rangers tonight and in his last outing he gave up three earned runs in six innings in a 14-3 win over the Minnesota Twins. After dropping Hamels first three starts of the season Texas has won his last two where he has gone 14 innings and has given up four earned runs. In 14 career starts facing Houston he is 6-3 with an ERA of 4.06. The Rangers have won Hamels last four starts facing the Astros. Overall, they have won 37 of his last 51 starts and they have won 17 of their last 25 road games with him getting the start.
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Mike Fiers gets the call for the Astros in the 2nd game of this division series and he went four innings in his last outing giving up two earned runs in a 4-3 loss to the Cleveland Indians. Houston had won his previous two starts, but the lineup was the main reason, as in those two outings he gave up eight earned runs in nine innings of work. In three career appearances, including two starts, facing the Rangers Fiers is 0-1 with an ERA of 6.23. Houston has won 12 of his last 17 home starts and they have won six of their last eight games facing a team with a winning record with him on the hill.
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<h2>
Betting Angles<br />
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<p>
The Rangers are 72-29 in their last 101 games against the Astros.
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The Rangers are 7-3 in their last 10 games against the Astros in Houston.
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In the last seven games between these teams in Houston the Under record is 5-1-1.
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This season the Astros are 10-5 at home and the Rangers are 3-7 on the road.
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<h2>
Straight Up / Over/Under / Run Line Records<br />
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Texas Rangers: 11-15 SU / O/U 10-16 / Run Line W/L 14-12<br />
Houston Astros: 17-9 SU / O/U 13-13 / Run Line W/L 16-10
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<h2>
Texas at Houston Key Betting Trends<br />
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<li>
TEX is 2-5 in their last 7 overall
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TEX is 1-6 in their last 7 road games
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TEX has an Under record of 9-2 in their last 11 games
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HOU is 13-5 in their last 18 overall
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HOU is 5-1 in their last 6 home games
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HOU has an Under record of 6-2 in their last 8 home games
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<h2>
Key Player Injuries<br />
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<b>RANGERS</b><br />
(!)[3B] 04/01/2017 - Adrian Beltre 10-day DL (3/30) ( Calf )<br />
[P] 04/01/2017 - Chi Chi Gonzalez 60-day DL (04/02) ( Elbow )<br />
[P] 04/01/2017 - Tanner Schepper 10-day DL (3/30) ( Abdominal )<br />
[SS] 04/03/2017 - Hanser Alberto 10-day DL (3/30) ( Shoulder )<br />
[P] 04/03/2017 - Tyson Ross 10-day DL (3/30) ( Undisclosed )<br />
[P] 04/22/2017 - A.J. Griffin 10-day DL (4/18) ( Ankle )<br />
[P] 03/31/2017 - Jake Diekman 60-day DL (2/14) ( Intestinal )<br />
[C] 03/31/2017 - Brett Nicholas 10-day DL (3/30) ( Knee )
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<b>ASTROS</b><br />
[RF] 04/26/2017 - Teoscar Hernandez 10-day DL (4/25) ( Leg )<br />
[P] 04/20/2017 - Jandel Gustave 10-day DL (4/19) ( Forearm )<br />
[P] 03/31/2017 - David Paulino 10-day DL (3/30) ( Elbow )<br />
[P] 03/31/2017 - Collin McHugh 10-day DL (3/30) ( Elbow )
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