Astros at Rangers
The Houston Astros look to continue their dominance in Arlington on Sunday as they attempt to complete a sweep of their four-game series against the host Texas Rangers. Houston pulled out a 4-3 victory on Saturday to improve to 6-1 at Globe Life Park this year - and 9-4 in the season series overall.
The Astros squandered a pair of leads before moving ahead for good when George Springer delivered a run-scoring single in the seventh inning, giving him six RBIs in eight games this month. Jose Altuve kept alive a pair of hitting streaks Saturday, recording a single in the eighth frame to extend his road run to nine contests and overall streak to seven games. Texas registered only five hits in falling to 2-3 on its six-game homestand and 3-6 in its last nine overall contests. Rookie Ronald Guzman recorded two of the hits, including an RBI single, to match the total from his previous seven games with a plate appearance.
TV: 3:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston), FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (3-8, 4.13 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Matt Moore (1-5, 7.47)
Keuchel's disappointing season continued Tuesday as he was battered for seven runs and seven hits - three homers - over 6 2/3 innings in a loss to Seattle. The 30-year-old native of Oklahoma, who already has suffered three more losses than he did last year, has gone 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA in four turns since scattering three hits over seven scoreless frames in a triumph over Texas on May 13. Keuchel, who lost at Texas in his season debut, is 9-9 with two shutouts and a 3.86 ERA in 24 career starts against the Rangers.
Moore's winless streak reached seven starts - and one relief appearance - on Tuesday as he came away without a decision against Oakland after giving up three runs and eight hits in six innings. The 28-year-old Floridian recorded his lone victory of the year on April 17, when he allowed an unearned run and five hits over a season-high seven frames at Tampa Bay. Moore owns a 3-2 record and 3.46 ERA in five career starts against Houston, with both losses coming this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rangers DH Shin-Soo Choo drew three walks Saturday, with the first one extending his on-base streak to 25 games.
2. Altuve has registered seven multi-hit performances during his road hitting streak.
3. Houston 1B Yuli Gurriel ended his first multi-game stretch without a hit since April 25-28 on Saturday by recording his ninth two-hit effort in 20 contests.