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Series Preview: Rangers Take On Astros

By Kenneth Nash

Apr 7, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Derek Holland (45) delivers a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels during a MLB baseball game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Derek Holland (45) delivers a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels during a MLB baseball game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Texas Rangers get their first day off since the start of the season Monday before returning to action Tuesday night against the Houston Astros.

The Texas Rangers (7-6) start a three-game series against the Houston Astros (5-8) in Arlington, Tuesday night with first pitch slated for 7:05 CT.

Previous Series

The Houston Astros are coming off a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers where they came away with a 2-1 series win. The Astros have been struggling offensively scoring 3 runs or less in five of their last six games.

The Rangers are coming off a four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles where Texas went 2-1 with the final game of the series being rained out Sunday afternoon.

Projected Starting Pitchers

Tues., 7:05 CT: Derek Holland (1-0, 2.31 ERA) vs. Scott Feldman (0-1, 3.48 ERA)

Wed., 7:05 CT: Cole Hamels (2-0, 2.95 ERA) vs. Doug Fister (1-1, 7.59 ERA)

Thurs. 7:05 CT: AJ Griffin (1-0, 3.27 ERA) vs. Dallas Keuchel (2-1, 2.18 ERA)

Injury Report

Houston:

Lance McCullers – right shoulder soreness

Max Stassi – left wrist injury

Texas: 

Robinson Chirinos – broken right forearm

Shin Soo Choo – right calf strain

Yu Darvish – Tommy John surgery

Chris Gimenez – left ankle infection

Josh Hamilton – left knee surgery

Tanner Scheppers – left knee surgery

Keys To The Series

For the Texas Rangers to come away with a series win, they’ll have to take advantage of Houston’s struggling offense. Texas is sending three starters to the mound this series that all have done a good job of limiting run damage and have put the team in a position to win. Holland and Hamels both have sub-3.00 ERAs and have limited run scoring chances.

Texas will also have to keep up the offensive firepower they displayed against the Orioles in the final game of that series. The Astros pitching is what has kept them in ballgames as of late and will be a big factor against this Rangers lineup. Dallas Keuchel threw an 8 inning shutout in his last outing and will look to keep up that momentum against the division leading Rangers.

Ian Desmond is expected to return to the lineup Tuesday after taking a day off on Saturday. Manager Jeff Banister took Desmond out of the lineup to give him a day to get refocused and try to break this hitting slump he’s been in of late. If Desmond comes back hitting well, it will make this Texas Rangers lineup even harder to get through than it has been.

Nomar Mazara has been one of the hottest hitters in this Rangers lineup since making his Major League debut. Mazara recorded a hit in each of the games against Baltimore in the previous series and is hitting .444 through his first 7 games.

Outlook

The Texas Rangers could use a series win against the struggling Astros. I’d expect the Rangers to get two of the three games in the series. They have a good chance of picking up the first two games of the series with Holland and Hamels on the mound but I’d expect Griffin to get out pitched by Keuchel on Thursday.

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