2020-09-15 20:10:00 EDT
The Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros meet Tuesday in MLB action from Minute Maid Park.
This will be the first installment of a three-game set between these teams this week. The Rangers are coming off a series versus the Athletics over the weekend. Texas managed to split those games 2-2. As for the Astros, they played two games versus the Dodgers, winning 7-5 on Saturday and falling 8-1 in the Sunday game. Check back all season long for free MLB picks and MLB predictions at Sports Chat Place.
The Rangers haven’t gotten a ton of power out of their offense this season. Joey Gallo leads the team with nine homers and 22 RBI but is hitting just .192 overall. Isiah Kiner-Falefa has had more luck with a .321 batting average and 23 runs, while Nick Solak has a .262 BA and 20 RBI.
For the Tuesday starter role, the Rangers will send out Kyle Cody. Over five games (two starts) this season, Cody is 0-1 with a 0.93 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 9.2 innings. This is the 26-year-old Cody’s first season in the MLB.
Over on the Houston side, they’ve had some issues with their offense this season as well. George Springer his hitting a tepid .240 but leads that team on nine homers. Kyle Tucker has 37 RBI with eight homers and 30 runs, while Carlos Correa is hitting .278 with four homers and 23 RBI.
In their starting pitcher job on Tuesday, Houston is going with Jose Urquidy. Over two starts this season, Urquidy is 0-1 with a 3.72 ERA and three strikeouts in 9.2 innings. In his MLB career, Urquidy holds a 2-2 record with a 3.91 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 50.2 innings total.
The Rangers are 17-35 in their last 52 Tuesday games and 19-44 in their last 63 road games. Texas is 7-21 in their last 28 overall and 7-19 in their last 26 games as an underdog.
Meanwhile, the Astros are 39-12 in their last 51 games following an off day and 55-18 in their last 73 during game one of a series. Houston is 53-21 in their last 74 home games and 130-61 in their last 191 games as a favorite.
Pick: I’m going with the Astros here. Urquidy posted a nice start his last time up, going six innings with two runs and six hits versus the Athletics. As for Cody, he’s been solid this season and tossed 55 pitches his last time on the mound. That said, Cody is walking 7.45 batters per nine innings, and the Rangers probably won’t push his pitch count. There should be a few opportunities for Houston to tally runs in this one. It’s a thick line though, so you wouldn’t’ be crazy to take Texas on a value play out of principle.
