Astros at Rangers
The Texas Rangers halted their skid against Houston and will look to defeat the visiting Astros for the second straight day on Saturday when the four-game set continues. Texas posted a 5-1 victory on Friday to end a five-game slide against Houston, a stretch that included a 4-1 Opening Day loss on Thursday.
Right fielder Nomar Mazara slugged the Rangers' first homer of the season and Joey Gallo contributed a run-scoring double as Texas hung a loss on Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel on Friday. Designated hitter Shin-Soo Choo went 3-for-4 on Friday and has four hits over the first two games. Houston struggled to get the clutch hit in Friday's game as it hit into three double plays and went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Shortstop Carlos Correa, third baseman Alex Bregman and versatile Marwin Gonzalez are 1-for-6 through two games, designated hitter Evan Gattis is 1-for-7 and right fielder Josh Reddick is hitless in seven at-bats.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS1, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Lance McCullers Jr. (2017: 7-4, 4.25 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Matt Moore (6-15, 5.52)
McCullers received two no-decisions against Texas last season and is 0-3 with a 6.26 ERA in five career outings versus the Rangers. The 24-year-old has struggled mightily with Elvis Andrus (6-for-11, three doubles, four RBIs) and also has been hit hard by Choo (4-for-10, one homer). McCullers often struggles on the road and is 6-12 with a 4.97 ERA in 29 career away starts.
Moore was acquired from San Francisco during the offseason after experiencing a dreadful 2017 season with the Giants in which he served up a career-worst 27 homers and allowed opposing batters to hit at a .283 clip. The 28-year-old has been saddled with arm injuries during his career, which includes a solid 17-4 record for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2013. Moore is 3-0 with a 1.42 ERA in three career regular-season starts against the Astros but has struggled with Jose Altuve (3-for-8, one homer).
WALK-OFFS
1. Andrus is 4-for-7 with a walk after the first two games of the series.
2. Altuve had two hits on Friday and is in pursuit of his fourth batting title in five seasons.
3. Texas LHP Martin Perez (right elbow surgery) threw 87 pitches over six innings in an intrasquad game for Triple-A Round Rock on Friday as the team tries to gauge whether he will be recovered in time to start against Oakland on Thursday.