Published June 12, 2017.
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Rangers vs. Astros Free Pick 06/12/17
By Larry Ness
The Houston Astros won 7-3 last Monday, giving them an 11-game winning streak. However, they finished the week by losing four of six. Part of Houston’s 11-game winning streak included a sweep at rival Texas and the Astros, who still own MLB’s best record at 44-20, will look to start a new streaking when they host the Rangers on Monday in the opener of a three-game series.
Texas has a 10-game winning streak of its own (May 9-19) but then lost 12 of 16. However, the 30-32 Rangers are inching their way back to .500, after earning an impressive series sweep of the NL East-leading Washington Nats this past weekend (Texas outscored Washington 16-6).
Yu Darvish (5-4, 3.18 ERA) gets the ball for Texas and Joe Musgrove (4-4, 4.89 ERA) for Houston. Darvish has allowed exactly three ERs in each of his last three outings (he’s 0-2 with a 4.42 ERA and Texas is 0-3). One of those starts came against Houston (June 2), when he absorbed the loss while yielding three runs on seven hits in five innings of a 7-1 loss. Darvish is 4-5 with a 3.62 ERA over 13 career starts against the Astros (Texas is 7-6).
Musgrove is coming off the 10-day DL (shoulder) and is making his first start since May 26, when he tossed seven scoreless innings in a win over Baltimore while striking out six and not walking a batter. He has allowed two or fewer ERs in four of his last six outings, although Houston is just 3-3 in those games. Musgrove is 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in four career starts against the Rangers (team is 1-3).
The Astros look to back on track tonight after a 2-4 stretch since the team’s 11-game winning streak ended and Darvish could be “just what the doctor ordered.” After all, Darvish is 0-4 with a 5.81 ERA over his last six starts against Houston (Rangers are 1-5).
I’ll take Houston.
Larry Ness’ Free Pick: Houston Astros (-113) @ GTBets
