Series Thread: Rangers Travel to Houston for Three Games September 5-7

[saddles]

PITCHING PROBABLES: Rangers: Martin Perez (10-5, 2.89 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 144 strikeouts); Astros: Hunter Brown (0-0)

BOTTOM LINE: The Texas Rangers head into the matchup against the Houston Astros after losing eight games in a row.

Houston has gone 43-20 at home and 86-48 overall. Astros hitters have a collective .318 on-base percentage, the 10th-best percentage in MLB play.

Texas has gone 30-37 in road games and 58-75 overall. The Rangers are 31-18 in games when they did not give up a home run.

Monday's game is the 17th time these teams meet this season. The Astros hold a 12-4 advantage in the season series.

TOP PERFORMERS: Yordan Alvarez leads the Astros with 31 home runs while slugging .593. Jose Altuve is 17-for-40 with six doubles, three home runs and seven RBI over the past 10 games.

Marcus Semien has 22 doubles, four triples, 21 home runs and 67 RBI while hitting .243 for the Rangers. Nate Lowe is 17-for-38 with two doubles, a triple and four home runs over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Astros: 7-3, .231 batting average, 1.96 ERA, outscored opponents by 16 runs

Rangers: 2-8, .268 batting average, 6.59 ERA, outscored by 15 runs

INJURIES: Astros: Martin Maldonado: day-to-day (illness), Justin Verlander: 15-Day IL (calf), Ryan Pressly: 15-Day IL (neck), Aledmys Diaz: 10-Day IL (groin), Michael Brantley: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jason Castro: 60-Day IL (knee), Blake Taylor: 60-Day IL (elbow), Josh James: 60-Day IL (lat)

Rangers: Josh Sborz: 60-Day IL (right elbow), Cole Ragans: 15-Day IL (calf), Joe Barlow: 15-Day IL (finger), Spencer Howard: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Jon Gray: 15-Day IL (side), Mitch Garver: 60-Day IL (forearm), Eli White: 60-Day IL (wrist)

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

"Relatively speaking, Cole Winn had a decent day. The overall strike rate was a robust 64%, suggesting good control marred by occasional lapses rather than a constant struggle for location. He didn't issue a walk after the 3rd and issued five swinging strikes with the changeup. With three or four starts remaining (assuming he's not shut down), Winn has a chance to repeat 2019 by concluding an ugly season on an upswing."

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Judge with his 54th HR. Too bad that Bonds, Sosa and Maguire forever ruined what was such an awesome thing growing up to see who could top 61 HRs.

 

[DTC]

Huff is up with Viloria down

 

[scotsman1948]

Huff is up with Viloria down

had to happen. wish they would bring up Jung too

 

[saddles]

 

[Kelleyman]

Huff is up with Viloria down

Wish he was in the lineup today

 

[DT LUNA]

Wish he was in the lineup today

Should be DH

 

[Kelleyman]

Should be DH

If he does DH and moves to catcher we lose the DH though. Just wish he was catching

 

[DT LUNA]

If he does DH and moves to catcher we lose the DH though. Just wish he was catching

Right but at this point in time not much loss.He needs AB's and playing time. Or catch and rest Heim. He needs rest imo.

 

[armadillooutlaw]

If he does DH and moves to catcher we lose the DH though. Just wish he was catching

In that case the pitcher has to hit, right? Just pretend the pitcher is Kole Calhoun (already a waste of at bats anyway). Problem solved!

 

[DTC]

If he does DH and moves to catcher we lose the DH though. Just wish he was catching

When’s the last time a catcher got injured middle of game and had to leave. How often does it happen? How much does it really matter? May ruin 1-2 AB at most over the course of a full season.

 

[Kelleyman]

Right but at this point in time not much loss.He needs AB's and playing time. Or catch and rest Heim. He needs rest imo.

Yeah no huge deal

 

[DT LUNA]

When’s the last time a catcher got injured middle of game and had to leave. How often does it happen? How much does it really matter? May ruin 1-2 AB at most over the course of a full season.

Ordinarily I would not do that but time is getting short with not much to lose and much to learn and gain.

 

[Duane1952]

Beasley just can’t keep from putting Kole in the lineup everyday. I sure hope he’s not the manager next year.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Opposing starter is making his MLB debut. Will the Rangers K 10+ times?

 

[DTC]

Opposing starter is making his MLB debut. Will the Rangers K 10+ times?

Probably

 

[saddles]

Schizophrenic decision makers.

 

[armadillooutlaw]

Schizophrenic decision makers.

Are the Joneses running the Rangers now?