Game: Houston Astros @ Texas Rangers
Time: 8:05 p.m.
Odds: Astros -107, Rangers -103
Total: 8.5
When the Texas Rangers play the Houston Astros tonight, Rangers P Nathan Eovaldi will start for the first time in seven weeks. After Houston pounded Texas pitching for five home runs and 16 hits in the opening game of the three-game series on Monday, Eovaldi is desperately needed.
Eovaldi will be activated ahead to tonight’s game, according to Rangers manager Bruce Bochy. The 33-year-old’s right forearm issue has kept him from pitching since July 18. In 19 starts this year, Eovaldi has an ERA of 2.69 and an 11-3 record. For the second time in his career, he was selected to the MLB All-Star game. Given that Houston has scored at least 13 runs in three of its last eight games, Eovaldi will undoubtedly have a significant challenge.
In yesterday’s game, the Astros hit five home runs. Jose Altuve and Mauricio Dubon hit back-to-back home runs not once, but twice. The pair did it the first time in a six-run seventh inning that gave Houston the lead for good. They did it again in the top of the ninth inning as the Astros won 13-6. Altuve and Alex Bregman each had four hits and two RBIs. It was Houston’s seventh win over Texas this season. The Astros lead the season series 7-4.
Eovaldi will be making his tenth career start against the Astros. He has a 3.83 ERA and is 3-3 overall. Against Eovaldi, Altuve is 8-for-27 with three home runs and two doubles. With their victory on Monday, Houston snapped a three-game losing streak and joined the Seattle Mariners in a virtual tie for first place in the American League West. The Rangers are behind by one game.
A costly two-run error by shortstop Corey Seager in the decisive seventh inning led to the Rangers’ 13th loss in their previous 17 games. The Texas bullpen was destroyed yesterday giving up nine earned runs in 4.1 innings. Seager did, however, hit two home runs. Josh Smith and Mitch Garver also went deep.
Houston will start left-hander Framber Valdez (10-9, 3.38 ERA) tonight. He had an interesting August, making six starts and going 2-2 with a 3.67 ERA. On August 1, Valdez pitched a no-hitter against the Cleveland Guardians. Later in the month on August 25, he pitched seven innings against the Detroit Tigers without allowing a hit before being taken out. In the two starts in between, he was hit for six runs.
The 29-year-old Valdez has had trouble this year with Texas, going 0-2 with a 6.52 ERA. He has made 15 appearances (12 starts) against the Rangers in his career and is 6-5 with a 3.05 ERA. Prior to his no-hitter, Valdez gave up six runs and eight hits in 3.1 innings of a 13-5 loss to the Rangers at home
Marcus Semien (6-for-26) has two home runs against Valdez this season. Seager, Leody Taveras, and Nathaniel Lowe (one home run) are all 6-for-20 against him.
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