Game No. 134 Preview: Houston Astros at Texas Rangers

Houston Astros (71-62) vs. Texas Rangers (80-54), Sept. 2, 2016, 7:05 PM CT

TV: ROOTSW
Radio: KBME 790 AM, La Nueva 94.1 FM
Online: MLB.TV
Texas Rangers SBNation Blog: Lone Star Ball

Pitching Matchup

RHP Doug Fister (12-9, 3.60 ERA, 1.29 WHIP) vs. RHP A.J. Griffin ( 6-3, 4.93 ERA, 1.30 WHIP)

Preview

Welp. It’s one more time into the fray for the Astros in Arlington. The Astros have lost 14 of their last 17 games in Arlington over the past two seasons. The victories won’t save the AL West crown — that would require a massive collapse from the Rangers that won’t come because of devil magic.

The Astros could live on the hope that series victories will help Houston make the playoffs and clean the slate against the Rangers.

Doug Fister is the first pitcher to get a crack at the Rangers. Fister is 2-2 with a 3.15 ERA in six August starts, but he only pitched 4 innings in two of his last three starts.

Fister is 1-1 with a 2.00 ERA in three starts against the Rangers in 2016. Current Rangers are batting .270 (44x163) against Fister with a .288 BABIP, 10.3 K%, and a 3.4 BB%.

A.J. Griffin counters Fister. Griffin is 2-2 with 5.34 ERA in five starts in August. He comes in on six scoreless innings against the Indians on Aug. 27.

Griffin is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in one start against the Astros in 2016. Griffin is 4-2 with a 4.10 ERA in seven starts at Rangers Ballpark this season.