Houston Can Clinch A Playoff Spot With A Win Over Texas

The Houston Astros enter Friday’s action with a 29-28 record, three games ahead of the Los Angeles Angels for second place in the American League West. One Astros win or Angels loss over the next three days will send the Astros to the postseason. Houston will look to take matters into its own hands with a road win on Friday over the Texas Rangers.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Astros have been bet down slightly from their Sportsbook position at -185 and are now going off as -175 road favorites on Friday. Texas will try to snap a four-game losing streak as a +155 underdog. The total has remained steady at 8.5 runs. The OVER is 6-1 in the last seven games between the Astros and Rangers.

Starting Pitchers Analysis

Jose Urquidy’s return from injury has provided a major boost to Houston’s starting pitching staff. The 25-year-old has a 2.78 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP across four starts and has given up two runs or less in all four of those starts. He had his best start of the season against Texas earlier this month when he allowed only three hits and one run while collecting seven strikeouts in seven innings during a 4-1 win over the Rangers.

Kyle Cody has pitched well for Texas out of the bullpen and in four short starts this season, compiling a 1.53 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP in 17.2 innings pitched. Cody only has one start that has lasted longer than three innings this season, so look for the bullpen to get involved early on the Rangers’ side.

Houston News & Notes

Houston has not been a dominant force in 2020, sitting just above .500 with a 29-28 record. The struggles of Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman at the plate this season have added fuel to the fire that Houston’s sign-stealing contributed heavily to the success of the team in recent years.

The pitching staff has also been severely hampered by the loss of Gerrit Cole in free agency and Justin Verlander’s absence due to injury, as well as a slew of other key injuries in the bullpen.

But despite their struggles and a dismal 9-18 record on the road this season, the Astros will in all likelihood be heading to the postseason. It will be interesting to see how Houston performs in the rare situation of having low expectations.

Texas News & Notes

Once upon a time, this Rangers team was 10-9 on the heels of a 7-1 run and appeared to be on its way to a competitive season. But since that stretch back in the middle of August, Texas is just 9-29 over 38 games and is currently mired in a 1-7 slump with four straight losses.

The Rangers have allowed 8.5 runs per game over their four-game losing streak, including a 12-4 loss to Houston on Thursday night.

Texas ranks 27th in the majors in team ERA at 5.16 and 29th in runs per game (3.60). This Rangers team has a long rebuild ahead if it hopes to compete with the Astros, Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels in years to come.