Rangers at Astros
The Houston Astros are trying to run away with the American League West but can't seem to find their way around the last-place Texas Rangers. The Rangers will try to ride a hot offense to a series sweep when they visit the Astros for the finale of a three-game series on Sunday.
Texas is 23 games behind Houston in the American League West but won the first two games of the current series by a combined score of 18-5 and watched Rougned Odor go 5-for-5 with a pair of home runs, including an inside-the-park homer, in Saturday's 7-3 triumph. Odor did the bulk of his damage on Saturday against Astros ace Justin Verlander, and the Rangers knocked around another former Cy Young Award winner in Friday's 11-2 triumph over Dallas Keuchel and company. Houston has dropped its last three games while totaling seven runs and placed All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve on the 10-day disabled list with knee soreness after Saturday's setback. The Astros will try to bounce back on Sunday behind right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. while the Rangers counter with left-hander Mike Minor.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), AT&T SportsNet - Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Mike Minor (6-6, 4.83 ERA) vs. Astros RH Lance McCullers Jr. (10-5, 4.01)
Minor is winless in his last four starts and has failed to make it through six innings in each of the last three turns. The Vanderbilt product allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out five in five innings against Oakland on Tuesday but was long gone by the time the Athletics rallied for a 13-10 win in 10 innings. Minor is making his fifth start of 2018 against the Astros and is still looking for a win after going 0-1 while posting a 5.40 ERA over the first four chances.
McCullers combined to allow one run and six hits while walking two and striking out 19 in 14 innings to earn wins over Tampa Bay and the Chicago White Sox on June 28 and July 6, but his last two starts have not been nearly as efficient. The 24-year-old issued a total of 10 walks while striking out four in 8 1/3 innings in losses to Oakland and the Los Angeles Angels in those last two outings, allowing 11 runs and 10 hits. McCullers made his season debut at Texas on March 31 and earned a win while yielding two runs on four hits and striking out 10 in 5 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Astros RHP Ryan Pressly allowed a home run in his team debut on Saturday after being acquired from Minnesota on Friday.
2. Texas INF Isiah Kiner-Falefa is 6-for-10 with two homers and three RBIs in the series.
3. Houston SS Carlos Correa (back) is taking part in baseball activities and could begin a minor-league rehab assignment next week.