<p>
AL West rivals the 30-32 Texas Rangers and the 44-20 Houston Astros will take to the field in the first game of a three-game set at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas tonight. The first pitch for the opener is scheduled to be thrown at 8:10 PM ET.
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<p>
The betting odds for the first game of this series has the host Astros favored anywhere from as low as -114 to as high as -125 on the money line. The O/U fr this game is on most MLB odds boards at 8.5 runs.
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<p>
In their last game, the Rangers beat the Washington Nationals 5-1. In that game, the Rangers scored five runs on four hits and the Nationals scored one run on only three hits.
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In their last game, the Astros lost to the L.A. Angels 12-6. In that match, the Astros scored six runs on 10 hits and the Angels scored 12 runs on 12 hits.
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<p>
This season the Rangers rank tied for 12th in the Majors in runs scored and 15th in team ERA.
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The Astros rank 2nd in the Majors in runs scored and 4th in team ERA.
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<h2>
Pitching Match Up<br />
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<p>
Texas: Yu Darvish (5-4, 3.18 ERA)<br />
Houston: Joe Musgrove (4-4, 4.89 ERA)
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<p>
Yu Darvish goes for the Rangers in the first game of this division series and in his last start he went seven innings and gave up three earned runs in a 4-3 loss to the New York Mets. Texas has lost his last three starts where in every one he gave up three earned runs, but in that span the Rangers have only scored a total of five runs. Darvish recently faced the Astros at home and he gave up three earned runs in five innings of work in a 7-1 Rangers loss. In 13 career starts against the Astros Darvish is 4-5 with an ERA of 3.62 and in his last six starts against them he is 0-4 with an ERA of 5.81. Texas has lost five of his last six starts overall against the Astros, but they have won four of their last five games against them in Houston with Darvish on the hill. The Rangers have won seven of his last nine starts on the road.
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<p>
Joe Musgrove gets the call for the Astros and he is just off the DL and has not started a game on the 26th of May. In that start he was solid giving up no earned runs in seven innings in a 2-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles. The Astros have won three of Musgrove’s last four starts. Musgrove got a start against Texas early in May and went five innings and gave up four earned runs in a 10-4 Astros loss. In four career starts against the Rangers he is 1-2 with an ERA of 5.40. Houston has lost five of Musgrove’s last seven home starts and they have lost four of their last five games against a team with a losing record with him getting the nod.
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<h2>
Betting Angles<br />
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<p>
The Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 home games against the Rangers.
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<p>
In the last 6 games between these teams the Over record is 4-1-1.
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<p>
In the last 5 games between these teams in Houston the Over record is 4-1.
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<p>
This season the Astros are 21-12 at home and the Rangers are 12-18 on the road.
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<h2>
Straight Up / Over/Under / Run Line Records<br />
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<p>
Texas Rangers: 30-32 SU / O/U 28-33 / Run Line W/L 35-27<br />
Houston Astros: 44-20 SU / O/U 32-26 / Run Line W/L 38-26
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<h2>
Texas at Houston Key Betting Trends<br />
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<ul>
<li>
TEX is 5-11 in their last 16 overall
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<li>
TEX is 4-9 in their last 13 games vs. a right-handed starter
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<li>
TEX has an Under record of 4-1 in their last 5 games
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HOU is 5-1 in their last 6 home games
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HOU is 6-1 in their last 7 home games vs. a right-handed starter
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<li>
HOU has an Over record of 7-3-3 in their last 13 games
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<h3>
Key Player Injuries<br />
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<p>
<b>RANGERS</b><br />
[P] 05/26/2017 - A.J. Griffin 10-day DL (05/27) ( Ribs )<br />
[CF] 05/15/2017 - Carlos Gomez 10-day DL (05/15) ( Hamstring )<br />
[P] 05/03/2017 - Cole Hamels 10-day DL (04/30) ( Oblique )<br />
[P] 06/01/2017 - Chi Chi Gonzalez 60-day DL (03/30) ( Elbow )<br />
[1B] 06/06/2017 - Mike Napoli 10-day DL (06/04) ( Back )<br />
[P] 05/28/2017 - Tyson Ross 60-day DL (03/30) ( Shoulder )<br />
[P] 03/31/2017 - Jake Diekman 60-day DL (02/14) ( Intestinal )<br />
[SS] 04/03/2017 - Hanser Alberto 60-day DL (03/30) ( Shoulder )
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<b>ASTROS</b><br />
[P] 05/30/2017 - Joe Musgrove 10-day DL (05/27) ( Shoulder )<br />
[P] 05/28/2017 - Charlie Morton 10-day DL (05/25) ( Back )<br />
[P] 06/09/2017 - Collin McHugh 60-day DL (03/30) ( Elbow )<br />
[P] 06/09/2017 - Dallas Keuchel 10-day DL (06/05) ( Neck )<br />
[P] 04/20/2017 - Jandel Gustave 10-day DL (04/19) ( Forearm )
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