Astros vs. Rangers Preview
TEXAS (AP) – After a 3-7 road trip ended on a sour note, the Texas Rangers hope returning home can provide a spark they lacked for most of the last week and a half.
If the Houston Astros are to spoil the homecoming, they may have to do it without an ailing Hunter Pence.
Texas looks for its 11th victory in 13 tries against Houston on Monday night when the teams begin a three-game interleague series at Ameriquest Field.
According to MLB odds and oddsmakers from online sports book Bodog have made the Rangers -172 money line favorites for Monday’s game against the Astros. Current MLB Public Betting Information shows that 87% of more than 613 bets for this game have been placed on the Rangers -172.
The Rangers (38-35) fell 4-2 in Atlanta on Sunday to cap a dismal trip, during which their lead atop the AL West was cut to one-half game over Seattle.
Despite the loss, Texas has won 16 of 20 interleague matchups. Manager Ron Washington took solace in the fact his squad won two of three against the Braves.
“Everyone had opportunities, but we won the series,” Washington said. “That’s a positive. They’ve got a good club over there, and they’ve won some games also. They outplayed us (Sunday).”
The Rangers have won four of six meetings in Arlington against the major league-worst Astros (27-46), who received good news when Pence’s MRI revealed no significant damage to his hyperextended left elbow.
Pence, a .326 career hitter on the road against the Rangers, missed his second straight game Sunday to be examined in Houston, where he was diagnosed with a sprain and is listed as day to day.
The offense sputtered in a 1-0 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, mustering a season-low three hits.
If Pence, among the top five in the NL in batting average, RBIs, doubles and hits, sits out Monday, manager Brad Mills may will go with Jason Bourgeois in right field for the third straight game.
Pence suffered the injury sliding into first base Friday.
“We don’t want to risk anything else,” Mills told the team’s official website. “He felt like he could probably go if he absolutely had to, but at the same time, we don’t want to hurt him at all.”
Houston was shut out for only the second time since April 29 after scoring 14 combined runs in back-to-back victories against Los Angeles on Friday and Saturday. The Astros have lost 12 of 16 and will turn to the struggling J.A. Happ (3-8, 4.95 ERA) help get them back on track.
Happ hasn’t won since May 14, going 0-4 with a 4.32 ERA in six starts. The left-hander didn’t earn a decision Wednesday in Houston’s loss to Pittsburgh, allowing two runs and striking out seven in five innings.
“I’m trying to go out there and play to win,” Happ said following his last start. “I don’t play to not lose. We’re going to keep trying to figure it out and keep working on stuff.”
He’ll oppose Derek Holland (5-2, 4.78), who is coming off one of his worst outings of the season Wednesday in a loss to the New York Yankees. The lefty gave up a season-high six runs and seven hits while walking five. He didn’t strike out a single hitter for the first time in 23 appearances dating back to Aug. 18.
Reigning AL MVP Josh Hamilton is hitting .515 with two homers and nine RBIs in his last seven games versus Houston and has a nine-game hitting streak overall against the intrastate rival.
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