Texas at Houston Tuesday MLB Match Preview & Betting Tips

When the Houston Astros moved to the American League in 2013, it created one of the best rivalries in baseball against the Texas Rangers. Those two square off in Game 2 of a three-game series on Tuesday night. The Astros are coming off a weekend series against the Los Angeles Angels, which ended at 1-2. The Rangers had a great weekend against the Washington Nationals, which they swept with ease, ending it at 3-0. The Astros will be MLB betting favorites for the game and series.

Texas at Houston Tuesday MLB Match Preview & Betting Tips

RECAP: Austin Bibens-Dirkx dominates as Rangers sweep Nationals. https://t.co/XN6co74wuF #LoneStarGrit pic.twitter.com/iXmCnNDv3Q

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) June 11, 2017

When: Tuesday, June 13, 8:10 PM ET Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston Probable pitchers (away/home): Nick Martinez/Lance McCullers Jr. TV: MLB Extra Innings Stream: MLB.tv Radio: Texas / Houston Opening MLB Lines: Astros favored by TBA

Why Bet On Texas?

The Rangers come in off a surprising three-game sweep at the Washington Nationals, arguably the National League’s best team. It was a 5-1 final on Sunday as Texas beat Nats ace and reigning Cy Young winner Max Scherzer. Shin-Soo Choo slugged his 10th homer and second in as many games as Texas completed its first road sweep of the season. On Saturday, the Rangers won after trailing by 2 runs through 8 innings, the club’s 3rd win of season when trailing after 8 (also 5/11 vs. SD; 5/12 vs. OAK). It’s last road win when trailing after 8 was 9/13/16 at HOU. The only other Texas win in 2016-17 (home or road) when trailing by multiple runs in the 9th was 8/8/16 at COL (also trailed 3-1 in 9th). The Rangers are now 3-2 in extra-inning games. Starting pitcher Tyson Ross (thoracic outlet surgery) said he is ready to make his Texas debut after averaging 90 pitches over his last two rehab starts at Triple-A Round Rock. Manager Jeff Banister did not commit to a return date. “My expectation is that if all things go well, his next start would be in the big leagues,” Banister said. “When that day is undecided.” It’s expected to be Nick Martinez (1-3, 4.88) on the mound here. He last pitched on June 4 vs. these Astros and didn’t allow a run in 3.1 innings. That was his first relief appearance of 2017. It was the 1st outing of 3.0+ IP and one-or- zero baserunners allowed by a TEX reliever since Ben Rowen (3.1 IP, 1 H) on 6/20/14 at LAA. Martinez is 1-3 with a 5.24 ERA (26 ER/44.2 IP) in 10 starts this year.

Why Bet On Houston?

The Astros are 6-1 against the Rangers in 2017 and have outscored their northern in-state division rivals 48-28. The Astros completed a three-game sweep over the Rangers on June 4 at Globe Life Park. Houston comes off losing a series at home to the Angels over the weekend as L.A. took the finale 12-6 on Sunday. The Astros scored six runs in the third and fourth innings combined, powered by homers from George Springer and Yuli Gurriel, to take a 6-3 lead. Houston OF Nori Aoki earned automatic entrance into Meikyukai or Golden Players Club, one of two Japanese baseball halls of fame, by collecting two hits on Sunday to give him 2,000 between the majors and Nippon Professional Baseball. After his double in the fourth inning, Aoki’s 2,000th hit came on a single to left field to start Houston’s sixth inning. Several Astros came out of the dugout to applaud Aoki, including Jose Altuve, who got the ball from the Angels and pretended to throw it into the stands before putting it away for safekeeping. Aoki matched his season high in hits with a single in the eighth inning to give him 1,284 hits in Japan and 717 in the majors. Sunday was the 19th straight game in which the Astros have homered, which is the longest streak in franchise history. Houston, which is third in the majors with 97 homers, has hit 38 during this streak. It’s Lance McCullers on the mound. He is 6-1, 2.58 ERA in 13 starts. McCullers allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out eight over seven innings in Thursday’s 6-1 win over the Royals. McCullers had all of his pitches working and had a no-hitter through 6.1 innings before a Lorenzo Cain triple which eventually led to his only run allowed. On June 3 vs. the Rangers, McCullers lasted only 4 1/3 innings after allowing six hits and four runs, while striking out eight on 96 pitches. McCullers struck out eight in each of his last three starts.

Texas at Houston MLB Betting Pick: Houston Astros

McCullers wasn’t great last time out vs. Texas but did pitch well against the Rangers on May 1 at home.