Houston at Texas

Houston is 31-14 on the road and has it all, second in baseball in runs scored, third in on-base percentage, and fifth in slugging, while the pitching staff is tops in ERA (2.84). And the defense is #1 in the league with the fewest errors. The Astros are 35-16 against losing teams and 14-3 when Gerrit Cole (9-2, 2.50 ERA) starts. He has allowed just eight hits while going 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 33 strikeouts over 20 innings in three starts against the Rangers this season and is 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA in four career outings. Stumbling Texas is 19-27 at home because of bad pitching, at #26 in team ERA (4.70) and defense, ranked #25 in fielding. Rangers lefty Mike Minor has been hit hard by Houston this season with a 5.74 ERA in 15+ innings. The Rangers are 8-21 at home against a team with a road winning percentage of greater than .600. Houston has won seven in a row against Texas and is on a 16-5 run in this park. Back Houston.