Astros at Rangers
The Texas Rangers have typically had their way with their Silver Boot Series rival - especially at home - over the course of time, but the Houston Astros have left little doubt recently which team holds the edge at the moment. The Astros eye a sixth straight victory in Globe Life Park on Friday when they continue a four-game set against the host Rangers.
Justin Verlander worked six scoreless innings while George Springer and Jake Marisnick clubbed solo homers en route to a 4-1 win on Opening Day against Texas. Houston has been even more dominant at Globe Life Park since the start of last season, outscoring the Rangers 70-31 while taking eight of the last 10 meetings at the venue after dropping 32 of the previous 41 in Arlington. Elvis Andrus and Adrian Beltre each had two hits in a losing cause for Texas, which went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and managed its only run on a wild pitch. The Rangers have suffered five straight defeats overall to their in-state rival and haven't won any of their previous three season-opening series under fourth-year manager Jeff Banister.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), FSN Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (2017: 14-5, 2.90 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Doug Fister (2017: 5-9, 4.88)
Keuchel recaptured the form last season that allowed him to claim the American League Cy Young Award in 2015, keeping his ERA below 3.00 and WHIP under 1.20 for the third time in four seasons after struggling in 2016. The 30-year-old, who drew the Opening Day nod for the team over each of the previous three years, is 40-24 with a 3.29 ERA in 89 career games (82 starts) prior to the All-Star break. Keuchel mostly had his way with the Rangers last season, going 3-1 with a 2.92 ERA in four turns.
Fister signed with Texas in late November after logging 18 games (15 starts) with the Boston Red Sox last season, going 5-2 with a 2.79 ERA for a seven-game stretch before finishing 0-2, 9.18 over his final four appearances. The Fresno State product will be joining his fifth team in six seasons, including a one-year stint with the Astros in 2016 during which he finished 12-13 with a 4.64 ERA. Fister dropped his only start against Houston last season, giving up three runs across 5 1/3 frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. Springer became the first player in major-league history with leadoff homers in consecutive season openers with his leadoff blast Thursday - the 100th home run of his career.
2. Andrus made his 10th consecutive Opening Day start Thursday, one shy of matching the club record held by Ivan Rodriguez and Michael Young.
3. Houston placed 1B Yuli Gurriel on the restricted list prior to the opener to start the clock on his five-game suspension, allowing for the possibility he could return as early as Tuesday if he doesn't need to go on the disabled list following February hand surgery.