One of the biggest rivalries in baseball is between the in-state division rivals, the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros. Each year, these two teams go head-to-head in what is known as the Silver Boot Series. Last season, Houston claimed the Boot by the end of the regular season with a record of 9-4. These teams last faced off against one another in the 2023 American League Championship Series, where the Texas Rangers walked away with the final victory with a series record of 4-3 and a trip to the World Series. This season kicks off with an almost back-to-back series with the Astros, the first being in Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
Texas Rangers (4-2) vs. Houston Astros (2-5)
Game 1:
Date: Friday, April 5th
Time: 7:05 pm CDT
Broadcast: AppleTV+, 105.3 the Fan
Game 2:
Date: Saturday, April 6th
Time: 6:05 pm CDT
Broadcast: SCHN, BSSWX, MLB.tv, 105.3 the Fan
Game 3:
Date: Sunday, April 7th
Time: 6:10 pm CDT
Broadcast: ESPN, 105.3 The Fan
Game 4:
Date: Monday, April 8th
Time: 7:05 pm CDT
Broadcast: BSSW, SCHN, MLB.tv
Probable Starting Pitchers
Game 1: Cody Bradford (1-0, 3.60 ERA) vs. Hunter Brown (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Bradford made his season debut on March 30th against the Chicago Cubs, pitching five innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs, one walk, and striking out six. In his two-year career with the Rangers, he has made 21 appearances with nine starts, going 5-3 with an ERA of 5.16, a 1.180 WHIP, and 57 strikeouts across 61 innings. Brown also made his season debut on March 30th against the New York Yankees, pitching four innings, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out five batters. In his three-year career with Houston, Brown has made 39 appearances with 32 starts, going 13-13 with an ERA of 4.50, a 1.333 WHIP, and 205 strikeouts across 180 innings.
Game 2: Jon Gray (0-0, 9.82 ERA) vs. TBD
Jon Gray had a rough start to his 2024 season. His season debut came on March 31st against the Chicago Cubs. He pitched 3.2 innings, allowing seven hits, five earned runs, and three walks while striking out two. In his three-year career with the Rangers, Gray has made 54 appearances, all of which have been starts, going 16-15 with an ERA of 4.15, a 1.238 WHIP, and 278 strikeouts across 288.1 innings. The Astros have not yet named the pitcher for game two, though, following the rotation, it should be JP France. However, that decision is currently up in the air as his wife just gave birth to a baby girl a few days ago, and he was placed on the paternity list.
Game 3: Dane Dunning (1-0, 4.26 ERA) vs. Ronel Blanco (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
Dane Dunning made his 2024 debut on April 1st against the Tampa Bay Rays. He pitched 6.1 innings, allowing three hits, three earned runs, four walks, and struck out seven. In his four-year career with the Rangers, Dunnings made 92 appearances, 81 of which were starts, going 22-25 with an ERA of 4.18, a 1.364 WHIP, and 398 strikeouts across 450 innings. With the season’s first no-hitter, Ronel Blanco made a splash in his 2024 debut against the Toronto Blue Jays. During the no-hitter on April 1st, he faced 29 batters, allowed only two walks, and struck out seven. In his three-year career in Houston, Blanco has made 25 appearances, eight of which were starts, going 3-1 with an ERA of 4.14, a 1.351 WHIP, and 66 strikeouts across 67.1 innings.
Game 4: Andrew Heaney (0-1, 1.93 ERA) vs. Framber Valdez (0-0, 2.19 ERA)
Andrew Heaney made his 2024 debut against the Tampa Bay Rays on April 2nd, pitching for 4.2 innings, allowing four hits, one earned run, and striking out seven batters. In his two-year career with the Rangers, he has made 35 appearances, 29 of which have been starts, going 10-7 with an ERA of 4.09, a 1.362 WHIP, and 158 strikeouts across 152 innings. Framber Valdez made his debut on Opening Day against the New York Yankees. He pitched 4.2 innings, allowing five hits, three earned runs, and six walks while striking out only five. His second outing faired better, pitching 7.2 innings, allowing six hits and striking out five. In his seven-year career with Houston, he has made 131 appearances, with 109 being starts, going 53-34 with an ERA of 3.38, a 1.220 WHIP, and 707 strikeouts across 724.2 innings.
Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros Leaders
Rangers:
AVG – Josh Jung – .412
HR – Adolis Garcia – 3
RBI – Adolis Garcia – 6
IP – Nathan Eovaldi – 13.0
ERA – Nathan Eovaldi – 1.38
K – Nathan Eovaldi – 11
Astros:
AVG – Yainer Diaz – .462
HR – Jose Altuve – 3
RBI – Jeremy Pena – 6
IP – Framber Valdez – 12.1
ERA – Ronel Blanco – 0.00
K – Framber Valdez – 10
Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros Numbers
Rangers
AVG: .268 (10th)
OPS: .793 (8th)
R: 35 (T-10th)
HR: 8 (T-7th)
ERA: 3.17 (9th)
K: 52 (22nd)
WHIP: 1.22 (13th)
Astros
AVG: .295 (2nd)
OPS: .855 (3rd)
R: 30 (16th)
HR: 12 (2nd)
ERA: 2.86 (6th)
K: 61 (9th)
WHIP: 1.24 (14th)
Wrap Up
This division rivalry is bound to be a great matchup. The Rangers came out looking hot, and the Astros—well, the Astros aren’t looking good at the moment. However, the season is young, and as we all know, baseball has a way of surprising everyone. The 2024 season has only just begun, and it’s a long road to the Fall Classic!
