by James Q
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers Prediction, Odds and Preview - 08/27/2021
Game Time: 8:05 pm ET, Friday, August 27th, 2021
Venue: Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas
Where to Watch: Bally Sports Southwest, ATT SportsNet-SW
Venue: Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas
Where to Watch: Bally Sports Southwest, ATT SportsNet-SW
Season-to-Date Record:
Astros: 75-52 (1st place, AL West)
Rangers: 44-82 (last place, AL West)
Rangers: 44-82 (last place, AL West)
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks:
DraftKings: Moneyline odds: Astros -220, Rangers +180; Over/Under: 8.5 runs
BetMGM: Moneyline odds: Astros -220, Rangers +180; Over/Under 8.5 runs
BetMGM: Moneyline odds: Astros -220, Rangers +180; Over/Under 8.5 runs
Key Injuries:
Astros: Chas McCormick (hand) Out, Jose Uriquidy (shoulder) Out
Rangers: John Heim Out, Spenser Howard Day to day, Dane Dunning Out
Rangers: John Heim Out, Spenser Howard Day to day, Dane Dunning Out
Recent Lineups:
Astros:
J. Altuve, 2B
A. Diaz, LF
Y. Gurriel, 1B
Y. Alvarez, DH
C. Correa, SS
A. Bregman, 3B
K. Tucker, RF
J. Meyers, CF
M. Maldonado, C
L. McCullers Jr., SP
J. Altuve, 2B
A. Diaz, LF
Y. Gurriel, 1B
Y. Alvarez, DH
C. Correa, SS
A. Bregman, 3B
K. Tucker, RF
J. Meyers, CF
M. Maldonado, C
L. McCullers Jr., SP
Rangers:
I. Kiner-Falefa, SS
A. Ibanez, DH
A. Garcia, RF
D. Peters, LF
N. Lowe, 1B
J. Trevino, C
N. Solak, 2B
L. Taveras, CF
R. Dorow, 3B
J. Lyles, SP
I. Kiner-Falefa, SS
A. Ibanez, DH
A. Garcia, RF
D. Peters, LF
N. Lowe, 1B
J. Trevino, C
N. Solak, 2B
L. Taveras, CF
R. Dorow, 3B
J. Lyles, SP
Statistical Leaders:
Astros:
Batting Average: Yuli Gurriel (.316)
Hits: Jose Altuve (130)
Home Runs: Yordan Alvarez (26)
RBI: Yordan Alvarez (86)
Stolen Bases: Myles Straw (17)
Wins: Zack Greinke (11)
Saves: Ryan Pressly (19)
ERA: Lance McCullers Jr (3.32)
Hits: Jose Altuve (130)
Home Runs: Yordan Alvarez (26)
RBI: Yordan Alvarez (86)
Stolen Bases: Myles Straw (17)
Wins: Zack Greinke (11)
Saves: Ryan Pressly (19)
ERA: Lance McCullers Jr (3.32)
Rangers:
Batting Average: Isaiah Kiner-Falefa (.266)
Hits: Isaiah Kiner-Falefa (134)
Home Runs: Adolis Garcia (27)
RBI: Adolis Garcia (71)
Stolen Bases: Isaiah Kiner-Falefa (16)
Wins: John King (7)
Saves: Ian Kennedy (16)
ERA: jordan Lyles (5.33)
Hits: Isaiah Kiner-Falefa (134)
Home Runs: Adolis Garcia (27)
RBI: Adolis Garcia (71)
Stolen Bases: Isaiah Kiner-Falefa (16)
Wins: John King (7)
Saves: Ian Kennedy (16)
ERA: jordan Lyles (5.33)
Managers:
Astros: Dusty Baker, 72 years old. He is being pushed toward retirement.. By age.
Rangers: Chris Woodward, 45 years old. Seems too young to be an MLB manager. Fortunately he has lots of time to try to average up the horrid record he has posted with the Rangers.
Rangers: Chris Woodward, 45 years old. Seems too young to be an MLB manager. Fortunately he has lots of time to try to average up the horrid record he has posted with the Rangers.
Recent Form:
The Astros are 5-5 over their last ten matchups. Logging 5 Overs, 4 Unders and 1 Push. They went 2-1 against the Kansas City Royals, 2-1 against the Seattle Mariners, 1-3 versus the Kansas City Royals. It’s been a Kansas City Royals heavy ten games. You would think the Astros would have played better. The Astros are 33-25-3 O/U in road games.
The Rangers are 3-7 over their last ten games. Logging 6 Overs, 3 Unders and 1 Push. 1-1 against the Cleveland Indians, 1-2 against the Boston Red Sox, 0-3 against the Seattle Mariners, 1-1 vs the Oakland Athletics. The Rangers are 27-32-3 O/U at home.
Statistical Comparison:
The Astros 1st in team batting average .268 (just above the Toronto Blue jays), 1st in runs scored (just above the Tampa Bay Rays) 683, and 9th in home runs 166. They are ahead of the New York Yankees in every positive batting statistic. The Astros have a super strong line-up that racks up those earned runs.
The Rangers are 29th in batting average .233 (behind the Chicago Cubs), 28th in runs scored 480 (1 spot above the New York Mets), 25th in home runs 135 (5 spots above Major League Baseball worst Pittsburgh Pirates). If it is true that you are the company you keep then the Rangers are the worst hitting team in major league baseball… I know the Arizona Diamondbacks strongly make that claim.. But consistently the Rangers are slightly worse.
The Astros are 5th in ERA 3.61, 10th in strikeouts 1158, 25th in runs given up by a pitcher a low 500. The Astros have a strong defense headed by great pitching… and the pitching doesn’t benefit from banging on the trash can. It’s been a hot Aug so far, the Astros better reserve some energy for the September sprint to the finish.
The Rangers pitchers are 23rd in 4.71 ERA, 29th in strikeouts 978, 7th in runs given up by a pitcher a very high 631. The Rangers have been the soft spot on every team’s schedule since June… June of 2017. The only category the Rangers are not in the bottom ten is BB… in walks they are tied for 19th with the Washington Nationals.
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Astros vs Rangers Game Preview
The Houston Astros projected starting pitcher will be right-hander Jake Odorizzi 6-6, 4.52 ERA, 70 strikeouts in 79 innings pitched, 1.26 WHIP. He’s been pitching steadily with his last loss against the Dodgers on August 4th. Jake is not the best pitcher in the Astros rotation by far… but he is enough to mow down the awful Rangers line-up.
The Rangers starting pitcher will be TBD. They haven’t decided yet. Part of the scheming for a last place team is when to use the one or two good guys you have on staff? It never ends up being against 1st place teams. You have to preserve the one or two quality guys and their trade value. The Rangers will trot out the bullpen and the Astros will drop balls out to Stadium RD.
Notable quotes:
“Great moment, great team win,.... I’m happy we fought back and won. That was a big game. It was fun to be part of it. I was glad I was up in that situation. I’m happy. That was a lot of fun, and I’m glad we won.” - Astro’s Jake Meyers after first walk off RBI of his career.
“When it comes to being positive, I’m not always smiling,... I’m always optimistic about moving this thing forward. I have to be. That’s my responsibility to the organization, players and the team.” Rangers Manager Chris Woodward. Silently wishing he had held out for a better MLB job. Sometimes you take the best opportunity for you… and sometimes those opportunities ruin future great jobs.
Astros vs Rangers Prediction:
Our MLB Pick for Friday August 27th game is Astros 9 Rangers 2
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James Q
About the Author:
James Q. has been involved with sports and gambling his entire life. A former division 1 scholarship basketball player, James understands sports (and especially basketball) inside-and-out. Following his basketball playing days, James parlayed his gambling skills into a semi-pro poker career. James resides in Los Angeles, and especially loves the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Rams, and Los Angeles Dodgers. And when he isn't betting on sports (and writing about it), James can be found performing stand-up comedy on the Sunset Strip.
