Texas Rangers vs. Houston Astros Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 5/21/2022

Time: 7:10 p.m. ET

Venue: Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX

Where to watch: Bally Sports Southwest, AT&T SportsNet-SW

DraftKings: Astros -235, Rangers +190

BetMGM: NL

Caesars: NL

 

Rangers: 17-20

Astros: 25-14

We can't expect the Texas Rangers to continue this kind of good play over a long period of time. There will be frustrating losses along the way, like Thursday against the Houston Astros. Texas' 4-game winning streak came to an end in the 5-1 loss to the AL West leaders in Minute Maid Park.

Glenn Otto pitched extremely well, going six innings and only allowing two runs. Unfortunately, as has been the case for the majority of the year, the Rangers' bullpen let the game get away after Martin Maldonado's three-run double in the bottom of the eighth broke the game open.

“I'm just happy I was able to get into the sixth inning,” said Otto, who is from Houston. “I wanted to try to eat up as many innings and save the bullpen as much as possible, especially with the beginning of a four-game series here in Houston. It was a rough first inning and I was able to battle through in the second and third to get through the sixth. All in all, I did my job.”

Texas' bats were quieted, getting only six hits and none of the Rangers' hitters atoned for a multi-hit game. The Rangers left seven runners on base.

“That was huge for [Otto] to give us a chance to win the game,” manager Chris Woodward said. “Ultimately, we had a chance to win that game many times. We just couldn't do enough to do it.”

Texas hasn't played as well at Minute Maid Park, and while I expect them to get some wins on the board this weekend, Thursday was a tough outing. Jon Gray back in the rotation should (hopefully) stabilize things a little bit.

Martin Maldonado was batting .116 and Dusty Baker didn't care. He trusted the 35-year-old veteran to deliver the three-run dagger in the bottom of the eighth to preserve the Astros' win.

Any other manager would've been chastised for such a decision. But of course it would pay off for the Astros. Why wouldn't it?

"Sometimes, in the right circumstance, you've got to give a confidence at-bat to somebody," Baker said. "It was a left-hander and fortunate for us Martín cleared the bases. You can't hit for him all the time or else he'll never get any confidence."

The Astros have alternated wins and losses coming into Friday's matchup with Texas, and who knows if they'll lose that one? But if Jose Altuve's 4-for-4 outing is any indication, they'll be getting that offense going in no time.

Framber Valdez went seven innings and allowed just one run for his second straight victory. We tend to forget Valdez when Justin Verlander is the talk of the rotation, but so far, things have settled in nicely to lower his ERA to 2.68.

"He was good," Baker said. "He was very good, and he dialed it up when he had to. He was probably throwing harder in that seventh inning than he was any other time in the game. He emptied the tank. He wanted that victory bad."

I don't know if the Astros are yet to take the mantle from the New York Yankees as the best team in the American League, but there's a lot of time left. Make some more efforts like this, and you'll be fine.

The Rangers are going to struggle heavily against Verlander, who will pitch for the Astros on Saturday. The veteran continues to turn back the clock with a 5-1 mark and 1.38 ERA. The Rangers have already struggled against him twice this season. Wouldn't be shocked if Verlander pitches another gem. Astros win 7-3

Rangers are 9-4 as an underdog between +125 and +175 this season.

Rangers are 12-32 the past three seasons as a road dog between +100 and +150.

Astros are 11-2 against left-handed starters this season.

Rangers:
Eli White (R) LF
Marcus Semien (R) 2B
Corey Seager (L) SS
Adolis Garcia (R) CF
Jonah Heim (S) C
Mitch Garver (R) DH
Kole Calhoun (L) RF
Andy Ibanez (R) 1B
Charlie Culberson (R) 3B
SP - Jon Gray

Astros:
Jose Altuve (R) 2B
Alex Bregman (R) 3B
Yordan Alvarez (L) DH
Aledmys Diaz (R) 1B
Kyle Tucker (L) RF
Jeremy Pena (R) SS
Chas McCormick (R) LF
Jose Siri (R) CF
Martin Maldonado (R) C
SP - Justin Verlander

Batting average: Corey Seager -- .245

Hits: Corey Seager -- 34

Home runs: Corey Seager -- 8

RBI: Adolis Garcia -- 24

Wins: Brock Burke -- 3

Saves: Joe Barlow -- 7

ERA: Martin Perez -- 2.01

Batting average: Michael Brantley -- .285

Hits: Michael Brantley -- 37

Home runs: Yordan Alvarez -- 12

RBI: Kyle Tucker -- 26

Wins: Justin Verlander -- 5

Saves: Ryan Pressly -- 4

ERA: Justin Verlander -- 1.38