Series Preview: Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers, September 25-27, 2015

Series Preview: Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers, September 25-27, 2015

The story hasn't changed, only the rolls have. Last time Houston saw the Rangers, they were sitting in first place in the West. Now, they are teetering on the edge of oblivion. THis series can go a long way to getting the Astros back into not just the Wild Card race but the American League West title race as well.

The Rangers keep rolling along at 8-2 in their last 10 games. While the Astros are 3-7 in their last ten games. Nothing says the Astros will find a way out of this tailspin, but if they don't they could loose both the West and the Wild Card.

Pitchers

Friday: LHP Scott Kazmir (7-10, 2.73 ERA, 1.15 WHIP) vs. RHP Yovani Gallardo (12-11, 3.41 ERA, 1.38 WHIP)
Saturday: RHP Collin McHugh (17-7, 3.93 ERA, 1.28 WHIP) vs. LHP Derek Holland (3-3, 4.75 ERA, 1.29 WHIP)
Sunday: RHP Dallas Keuchel (18-8, 2.51 ERA, 1.02 WHIP) vs. LHP Martin Perez (3-5, 5.21 ERA, 1.54 WHIP)

Starting pitching has been the problem for the Astros down the stretch except when they face the Rangers. Texas tore up the Astros pitching in the recent four-game series -- Astros starters giving 19 runs over 21 1/3 innings.

Scott Kazmir has gone 1-5 with a 3.70 ERA in 10 starts. He allowed two earned runs over seven inning in his last outing against Texas. Yovani Gallardo is 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA in his last two starts.

Collin McHugh is 8-2 with a 3.08 ERA in his last 12 starts. Derek Holland is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in his last three starts.

Dallas Keuchel goes for a clean sheet at home on Sunday, he is currently 14-0 at home. Martin Perez is 4-0 with a 2.00 ERA in his last five career starts against Houston.

Batting

Jose Altuve is batting .400 (10x25) with four doubles in his last six games. George Springer is batting .318 (7x22) with a home run and seven RBIs in his last six games. Carlos Correa is batting .318 (7x23) with a home run and six RBIs in his last six games.

FIve Rangers (Beltre, DeShields, Choo, Andrus, Moreland) are batting over .300 with at least 19 at-bats in the team's last six games. Mitch Moreland has two home runs and Six RBIs, Adrian Beltre has 11 RBIs in his last 23-at-bats.

Prediction

My mind tells me the Astros get one game, but my heart says two. Clearly my heart is still holding on to some hope I don't have.

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