Texas Rangers @ Houston Astros Series Preview

The Rangers kick off their final road trip of the season with three games in Houston. The Rangers are 1-2 in Houston in 2020, which is one more win in Houston than they had in 2019. Texas might be facing the Astros just in time too as Houston is coming off a terrible run — they’re 2-8 for their last 10, a game below .500, with a six game losing streak broken up by a win in the second game of a double header against Oakland last Tuesday.

Houston will have Jose Urquidy on the mound to make his third start of the season after suffering from Covid most of the season. The Rangers have only faced him once, when he gave up just one run on two hits in seven innings of a start against Texas last year. Kyle Cody will take the mound for the Rangers, facing Houston for the first time.

On Wednesday, Kyle Gibson will start for Texas. He hasn’t pitched against Houston since 2018, but in his career he has a 3.54 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 40.2 innings versus the Astros. Lance McCullers Jr. will make his first start since coming off the IL for a neck nerve irritation after not recording an out in his last start on September 3. He also hasn’t faced the Rangers since 2018. McCullers Jr. is 1-4 versus Texas, he has a 5.61 career ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 33.2 innings.

For the finale in Houston, there will be a re-match between starters with Framber Valdez starting for Houston. When he pitched against the Rangers a couple of weeks ago, he went seven innings, giving up three runs on five hits and three walks, getting the no decision. In three starts so far in September, he has a 7.58 ERA, giving up 16 runs on 19 innings. Jordan Lyles will pitch for Texas, he had an opener his last outing against the Astros. He pitched five innings ‘in relief’ of Luis Garcia, giving up three runs on five hits and a walk. Lyles has a 5.89 ERA in September and has given up 12 runs in 18.1 innings.