Rangers at Astros
Justin Verlander attempts to continue his run of success against Texas when the Houston Astros host the Rangers on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game series. Verlander is 2-1 with a 1.73 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and .146 batting average allowed while recording 32 strikeouts over 26 innings in four starts against the Rangers this year.
Verlander is 13-7 with a 2.80 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 24 career starts against Texas as he also enjoyed success versus the club while pitching for Detroit. He will be looking to help the Astros bounce back from Friday's 11-2 loss, which ended their eight-game winning streak against the Rangers. Isiah Kiner-Falefa went 4-for-5 with a homer while Robinson Chirinos and Jurickson Profar also went deep as Texas defeated Houston for just the fifth time in their last 21 meetings. Adrian Beltre registered three hits and is 8-for-14 over his last three games to raise his career total to 3,125 as he closes in on Tony Gwynn (3,141) for 19th place on the all-time list.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Ariel Jurado (0-1, 7.71 ERA) vs. Astros RH Justin Verlander (10-5, 2.19)
Jurado is expected to be recalled on Saturday to make his second career appearance. The 22-year-old lost his major-league debut against the Chicago White Sox on May 19, when he gave up four runs and six hits over 4 2/3 innings. Jurado has gone 5-3 with a 3.28 ERA in 16 starts for Double-A Frisco this season.
Verlander was 0-3 over a six-start stretch before defeating the Los Angeles Angels in his last turn as he struck out 11 and allowed five hits over six scoreless innings. The 35-year-old is just 2-3 in 12 turns at home this season despite posting a 2.51 ERA and 0.75 WHIP while limiting opponents to a .174 batting average. Verlander has registered 39 strikeouts and issued only two walks over 25 innings in four starts this month.
WALK-OFFS
1. Astros All-Star 2B Jose Altuve (knee) was held out of the series opener and may sit again on Saturday.
2. The Rangers traded LHP Cole Hamels to the Chicago Cubs for RHPs Eddie Butler and Rollie Lacy, as well as a player to be named.
3. Houston All-Star INF Alex Bregman went 0-of-3 on Friday but drew a walk as he has reached base in 28 consecutive games and 59 of his last 60.