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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Alperen Sengun had 32 points and 14 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets held on to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 119-115 on Thursday night in a showdown between two of the top teams in the Western Conference.
Jalen Green finished with 27 points and Fred VanVleet scored 22 as the Rockets won their third straight and solidified their hold on second place in the Western Conference, moving 1 1/2 games ahead of Memphis.
Ja Morant scored 27 points in his return from a five-game absence with a shoulder injury, and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 21 points, eight rebounds and six blocks for Memphis. Desmond Bane had 16 points.
Houston dominated the inside early, scoring 20 points in the paint before the halfway point of the first quarter. Memphis initially couldn't stop anything at the rim. Houston opened a 17-point lead before taking a 68-63 advantage at the break.
Takeaways
Rockets: Houston is 12-5 on the road, including six straight wins away from home.
Grizzlies: After allowing the Rockets to score inside and build a big lead, Memphis chipped into the advantage to make it a more competitive game.
Key moment
With 3.8 seconds left in the game and Houston leading 117-114, Bane fired up a 3-pointer that rattled in. But Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins called timeout before the shot was made. Bane was fouled on the ensuing inbounds, and Memphis wouldn't get another chance for a winning shot.
Key stat
Houston is 19-3 when they score at least 110. Houston hasn't allowed more than 115 points in past 15 games.
Up next
The Rockets are at Atlanta on Saturday. Memphis travels to Minnesota to face the Timberwolves on Saturday.