Houston at Texas

The Texas Rangers are in a free fall, as they have seen injuries to their rotation turn a contender into one of the worst teams in the league. I don't think anyone at the beginning of the season would have given the Astros a shot at being three games back in the loss column to the Rangers just prior to the break. The Astros were 2-17 last season against Texas, and their 4-3 record against them this year is testament of the strides they have made, and how far Texas has fallen. Phil Irwin makes his first start in a Rangers' uniform after one start with Pittsburgh that went poorly, where he allowed 5 runs in less than five innings. Texas is a miserable 2-4 in their last 6 games to a posted total of 9 to 10.5. Take Houston.