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Houston Astros (69-87) at Arlington Rangers (62-93), 7:05 p.m. (CST)
TV: CSN Houston, FSSW, MLB.TV
Radio: KBME 790 AM, KLAT 1010 AM
Rangers SBNation Blog: Lone Star Ball
Pitching matchup
RHP Nick Tropeano (1-1, 2.70 ERA, 1.20 WHIP) vs. LHP Derek Holland (1-0, 0.99 ERA, 0.99 WHIP)
Preview
The Astros home schedule is now complete, and they have six games left on the road. Houston heads to Arlington one last time this season with the Silver Boot already in hand. The Rangers have caught fire since the departure of manager Ron Washington. Arlington is 8-4 in their last 12 games - that includes a seven-game winning streak. The fifth-place team in the division put the Athletics into a full tail spin as they swept Oakland last week, and won a series with Angels over the weeknd.
Houston completed another series win against the Mariners this month on Sunday. Now the Astros send out rookie Nick Tropeano for his third start this season. Tropeano has pitched 10 innings, allowing eight hits and three earned runs. He has walked four, struck out nine, and allowed just one extra-base hit thus far.
This will the first time NiTro faces the Rangers in his young career. He will face a red hot Adrian Beltre, the Rangers third baseman is batting .391 (9-23) with five doubles in his last six games. Jake Smolinski is 8-for-26 with two home run in his last six games. Starting left tonight, Ryan Rua is batting .429 (9-21) with a double and home run in his last five games.
On the mound for the Rangers is Derek Holland, who is making his fifth start of the season. Holland who has been a steady hand in the Rangers rotation since 2009, missed much of the 2014 season with a knee fracture after tripping over his 70-boxer named Wrigley. This season, Holland has given up just one run over 14 innings at Globe Life Park - walking zero and striking out 11.
Jose Altuve, currently sitting on 220 hits for the season, 3-for-11 with a double against Holland in his career. Chris Carter is 4-for-16 with a home run, and Jason Castro is 4-for-6 with home run against the Rangers' lefty.