ASTROS-RANGERS PREVIEW
Astros seek to halt skid, tie series with Rangers behind Framber Valdez
Aug 6, 2024, 1:52 pm
The Astros look to even the series with Framber Valdez on the mound. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.
Houston Astros (57-55, second in the AL West) vs. Texas Rangers (54-59, third in the AL West)
Arlington, Texas; Tuesday, 8:05 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Astros: Framber Valdez (10-5, 3.56 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 108 strikeouts); Rangers: Tyler Mahle (0-0)
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Astros -127, Rangers +107; over/under is 8 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros head into the matchup with the Texas Rangers as losers of three in a row.
Texas has a 31-25 record at home and a 54-59 record overall. The Rangers have gone 38-19 in games when they record eight or more hits.
Houston is 57-55 overall and 25-29 in road games. The Astros rank eighth in the AL with 125 total home runs, averaging 1.1 per game.
The teams meet Tuesday for the 12th time this season. The Rangers lead the season series 6-5.
Zach Dezenzo makes his Astros debut!
Dezenzo Debut.
⚾️: 7:05pm
📺: @SpaceCityHN
🎙️: @SportsTalk790 | Spanish: 93.3 FM#Relentless x @reliantenergy pic.twitter.com/Bj2aiRTBT3
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 6, 2024
TOP PERFORMERS: Marcus Semien has 20 doubles, two triples and 16 home runs while hitting .244 for the Rangers. Corey Seager is 14-for-42 with a double and four home runs over the past 10 games.
Jose Altuve leads the Astros with a .301 batting average, and has 21 doubles, 14 home runs, 31 walks and 47 RBI. Yainer Diaz is 16-for-38 with two home runs and five RBI over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rangers: 3-7, .219 batting average, 6.79 ERA, outscored by 28 runs
Astros: 4-6, .223 batting average, 3.69 ERA, outscored by nine runs
INJURIES: Rangers: Jake Latz: 15-Day IL (forearm), Max Scherzer: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Evan Carter: 60-Day IL (lumbar), Jon Gray: 15-Day IL (groin), Cole Winn: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Tyler Mahle: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jacob deGrom: 60-Day IL (elbow), Carson Coleman: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Astros: Kyle Tucker: 60-Day IL (shin), Justin Verlander: 15-Day IL (neck), Cristian Javier: 60-Day IL (forearm), Jose Urquidy: 60-Day IL (forearm), Oliver Ortega: 60-Day IL (elbow), Bennett Sousa: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Penn Murfee: 60-Day IL (elbow), Luis Garcia: 60-Day IL (elbow), Lance McCullers Jr.: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kendall Graveman: 60-Day IL (elbow)
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Critical levers Astros can pull as health concerns, deadline pressures grow
Jul 10, 2025, 3:46 pm
Jake Meyers is the latest Astro to be rushed back from injury too soon. Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images.
Houston center fielder Jake Meyers was removed from Wednesday night’s game against Cleveland during pregame warmups because of right calf tightness.
Meyers, who had missed the last two games with a right calf injury, jogged onto the field before the game but soon summoned the training staff, who joined him on the field to tend to him. He remained on the field on one knee as manager Joe Espada joined the group. After a couple minutes, Meyers got up and was helped off the field and to the tunnel in right field by a trainer.
Mauricio Dubón moved from shortstop to center field and Zack Short entered the game to replace Dubón at shortstop.
Meyers is batting .308 with three homers and 21 RBIs this season.
After the game, Meyers met with the media and spoke about the injury. Meyers declined to answer when asked if the latest injury feels worse than the one he sustained Sunday. Wow, that is not a good sign.
Asked if this calf injury feels worse than the one he sustained on Sunday, Jake Meyers looked toward a team spokesman and asked "do I have to answer that?" He did not and then politely ended the interview.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) July 10, 2025
Lack of imaging strikes again!
The Athletic's Chandler Rome reported on Thursday that the Astros didn't do any imaging on Meyers after the initial injury. You can't make this stuff up. This is exactly the kind of thing that has the Astros return-to-play policy under constant scrutiny.
The All-Star break is right around the corner, why take the risk in playing Meyers after missing just two games with calf discomfort? The guy literally fell to the ground running out to his position before the game started. The people that make these risk vs. reward assessments clearly are making some serious mistakes.
The question remains: will the Astros finally do something about it?