ES 
NFL Picks 
MLB Picks 
NBA Picks 
NHL Picks 
Soccer Picks 
Prediction 
Odds 
Last Recap 
Top Handicapper 
Picks 
Rangers Chase Series Victory in Finale vs. Astros
The Texas Rangers showed some serious grit on Saturday, pulling off a 2-1 win in 10 innings over the Houston Astros. There’s no doubt they’re not just coasting into the All-Star break.
Game Recap and Key Moments
The Rangers managed just one hit with runners in scoring position, but it was the one that mattered. Nathaniel Lowe’s single with two outs and Josh Smith on third base in the top of the 10th inning sealed the deal, tying the series at one win each heading into Sunday’s rubber match. “The last thing we wanted was to go into (Sunday) losing the first two,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said.
Team Performance and Strategy
The Rangers secured their win by striking out 11 Astros while allowing just one walk, an intentional pass to Yordan Alvarez by closer Kirby Yates with two outs in the bottom of the 10th. Despite leaving the bases loaded in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings of a tie game, the Rangers snapped Houston’s 10-game home winning streak. “There was a lot of fight,” Bochy said. “The at-bats were tough; it looked like guys had trouble seeing the ball. But you keep going and you hope your pitching comes through, and that’s what happened.”
Pitching Matchup: Scherzer vs. Blanco
Right-hander Max Scherzer (1-2, 3.09 ERA) will start for Texas in the series finale. This will be Scherzer’s fifth start of the season after beginning the year on the 60-day injured list due to offseason back surgery. Since his five shutout innings debut against the Kansas City Royals on June 23, Scherzer is winless in his last three starts, posting a 3.93 ERA. Scherzer has a career 5-2 record with a 3.84 ERA in 10 appearances (nine starts) against Houston. Last season, he went 1-1 with a 6.55 ERA in two starts against them.
Right-hander Ronel Blanco (9-3, 2.53 ERA) will start for the Astros. Blanco recorded his 10th quality start against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over seven innings in a 4-3 victory. It was the fifth time this season Blanco has worked at least seven innings, boasting a 5-0 record with a 0.97 ERA in those starts. Blanco is 2-0 with a 3.10 ERA in six career appearances (three starts) against the Rangers.
Astros’ Performance and Managerial Insights
The Astros are aiming for another series win, needing a victory on Sunday to cap off an 18-5 close to the first half. Despite the middle game loss, the Astros showed their resilience. “That’s the team that we’ve seen for many, many years,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “I really like our effort and the way we fought until the end. That’s the way you do it.”
Conclusion
The Rangers are aiming to secure a series victory against the Astros before the All-Star break. With Max Scherzer starting for Texas and Ronel Blanco pitching for Houston, fans can expect an exciting and competitive matchup. Both teams are making strategic changes to their lineups and bullpens, adding to the intrigue of this crucial game.
