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Game No. 135 Preview: Houston Astros at Texas Rangers

Can the Astros figure out Arlington?

MLB: Houston Astros at Texas Rangers Sean Porkorny-USA TODAY Sports

Houston Astros (71-63) vs. Texas Rangers (81-54), Sept. 3, 2016, 3:05 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 Joe Musgrove (2-2, 4.36 ERA, 1.21 WHIP) vs. LHP Derek Holland (6-6, 4.68 ERA, 1.32 WHIP)

Preview

Welp — to repeat yesterday’s statement. It’s one more time into the fray for the Astros in Arlington. The Astros have lost 14 15 of their last 17 18 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.

Dallas Keuchel has been moved back to the Indians series at the start of the week. Joe Musgrove makes the start for the Astros on Saturday.

Musgrove makes his sixth start for the Astros and his second start against the Rangers. In his first start, he held the Rangers to one run on five hits on Aug. 7. Musgrove comes in on 5 1/3 scoreless innings against the A's.

Current Rangers are batting .217 (5x23) against Musgrove with a .278 BABIP, 1.53 FIP, 21.7 K%, and 0.0 BB%.

Derek Holland starts for the Rangers opposite Musgrove. Holland is making his third start since coming off the DL, he is 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA in those two starts.

Holland is 4-2 with a 4.31 ERA in 11 career starts against Houston. Holland is 1-0 with 3.60 ERA one start against the Astros in 2016.

Current Astros are batting .337 (30x89) against Holland with a .333 BABIP, 6.33 FIP, 10.3 K%, and a 5.2 BB%.