Rangers at Astros
The Houston Astros go after their fifth victory in six outings during a stretch of nine straight games against American League West opponents when they host the rival Texas Rangers in the rubber match of their three-game set Sunday afternoon. The Astros, who visit the Los Angeles Angels for the first of three contests Monday, evened the series at a game apiece Saturday as Charlie Morton struck out a career-high 14 in a 6-1 triumph over the Rangers.
Houston will likely be without slugger George Springer (eight homers, 26 RBIs) for the second straight game due to an elbow bruise, but team officials do not expect the center fielder to land on the disabled list. Dallas Keuchel will try to give the Astros their second series victory in three tries against Texas this year when he takes the mound against fellow left-hander Matt Moore, who hopes to find his top form after a pair of rough outings. The Rangers had won three of four before managing just four hits Saturday as Ronald Guzman produced the only run with his first homer since April 14. Texas outfielder Nomar Mazara saw his four-game hitting streak come to an end Saturday but is still 7-for-18 with three homers over his last five outings.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Southwest (Texas), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Matt Moore (1-4, 7.71 ERA) vs. Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (2-5, 3.53)
Moore has struggled mightily in his last two starts, yielding 15 runs on 20 hits and four walks over 9 2/3 innings with one loss and a no-decision Monday against Detroit. The 28-year-old Floridian, who is 52-52 in his career, allowed seven runs (six earned) over 18 innings combined in the four previous outings (one in relief). Jose Altuve is 4-for-10 with a homer against Moore, who dropped to 3-1 with a 2.74 ERA versus Texas after permitting four runs over four innings in his season debut.
Keuchel notched his fifth quality start in eight outings Monday when he gave up one run on five hits across eight innings to beat Oakland. The 2015 Cy Young Award winner has allowed three runs or fewer in seven of eight starts, including March 30 at Texas when he surrendered three runs over six innings in a 5-1 loss. Mazara is 7-for-22 with a homer and Adrian Beltre has gone deep twice versus Keuchel, who is 8-9 with a 4.04 ERA in 23 career games against Texas.
WALK-OFFS
1. Beltre is 0-for-7 in the series with four strikeouts, dropping his career average against Houston to .303 with 25 homers and 85 RBIs in 145 games.
2. Houston SS Carlos Correa, who homered Saturday in his 400th game, has gone 39 contests without an error to start the season.
3. The Rangers have been better on the road (9-9) than at home (7-16) and own an 8-14 record against the American League West.