Texas Rangers Roundup: Rubber Match With Astros

Entering today’s game the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros are tied 1-1 in first series of the season. The Rangers and Astros play 19 more times before the winner of the Silver Boot Trophy is declared. However, a win today would mean Texas won the first series, which gives Rangers fans bragging rights until they meet again in May.

TEXAS RANGERS: (3-3, .500)

• Entering today’s game Texas is tied with Oakland Athletics for 1st place in American League West.
• The Rangers have not been tied with the A’s for first since April 27, 2014.
• This is the 8th consecutive season for the Texas Rangers to be .500-or-better through 6 games.
• Texas went 7-9 in rubber games last year but winning 4 of the last 5.
• The Texas Rangers have won 13 of last 15 series against the Astros at the Ballpark.
• Since the start of 2012 Texas has posted 52-29 record in April.

DeSHIELDS DEBUTS:

• Delino DeShields makes his first major league start today and is batting 9th in the lineup.
• DeShields entered Saturday’s game as a pinch-runner and recorded the first stolen base for Rangers this season.
• His stolen base was also his first career stolen base.

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ALL ABOUT BELTRE:

• Adrian Beltre doubled and tripled last night, 4 of his 5 hits have been for extra bases.
• Beltre’s 4 extra base hits ranks T3rd in the American League and is team-high.
• He is on a 3-game hit streak, with an extra base hit and run scored in all three games.
• Since 2012 Beltre has an average of .359 and is slugging .677 against the Astros.

GOOD RELIEF:

• The Texas Rangers bullpen posted 3.1 scoreless innings in last night’s win.
• Last night marked the 2nd game of 2015 for Rangers bullpen to go scoreless.
• Shawn Tolleson is the only bullpen pitcher this season to who has not allowed a run.

COLBRA:

• Colby Lewis has won four straight against the Houston Astros.
• He is the first Rangers pitcher to win four straight against the ‘Stros, EVER.
• In 10 games/7 game starts against Houston Colbra has gone 5-1, with an ERA of 1.54, allowing only 9 earned runs.

MINOR MOVES:

• Right-handed pitcher Stolmy Pimentel was activated on the Texas Rangers’ 25-man roster.
• Right-handed pitcher Jon Edwards was optioned back to Triple-A Round Rock Express.

Today’s game is slated to start at 2:05 p.m. (CDT). Here are the lineups for your Texas Rangers and Houston Astros –

TEXAS RANGERS: RHP Colby Lewis (1-0, 1.50)

1. Leonys Martin CF
2. Elvis Andrus SS
3. Adrian Beltre 3B
4. Prince Fielder DH
5. Jake Smolinski RF
6. Adam Rosales 1B
7. Rougned Odor 2B
8. Carlos Corporan C
9. Delino DeShields LF

HOUSTON ASTROS: LHP Dallas Keuchel (1-0, –)

1. Jose Altuve 2B
2. George Springer RF
3. Jed Lowrie SS
4. Luis Valbuena 3B
5. Evan Gattis DH
6. Jason Castro C
7. Colby Rasmus LF
8. Marwin Gonzalez 1B
9. Jake Marisnick CF

ON DECK FOR TOMORROW:

Texas Rangers LHP Ross Detwiler vs. Los Angeles Angels RHP Matt Shoemaker. You can catch the game on FOX Sports Southwest at 7:05 p.m. (CDT).

NEVER.EVER.QUIT.

Next: How the Rangers' Rotation Can Survive