Houston @ Texas preview
Choctaw Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jun 26, 2010 ) Houston 2, Texas 7
When Roy Oswalt takes the mound for the Houston Astros on Sunday, he could be auditioning for the team in the other dugout.
Oswalt will be looking to impress his potential suitors when the Astros close out a three-game series against the Texas Rangers.
Rumored to be on the trading block since expressing his willingness to leave Houston earlier in the season, there have been no shortage of rumors about the veteran right-hander, the most persistent of which involve the Rangers.
Texas president Nolan Ryan has spoken openly about his fondness for Oswalt, who has said he would be open to moving upstate.
There are two main stumbling blocks to any potential Oswalt-to-the-Rangers trades, of course.
First, Oswalt is a favorite of Astros owner Drayton McLane, who would have to be overwhelmed both by prospects and dollars if he is to move the ace. Second, Texas is in the middle of bankruptcy proceedings, holding up the sale of the franchise and leaving the club unable to take on much salary.
Should the bankruptcy situation failed to be resolved before the July 31 trading deadline, Oswalt would have to choose from one of the many other teams that want him and meet his condition of providing him with a chance to get back to the postseason.
Oswalt’s solid 2010 campaign makes him one of the names at the top of teams’ wish lists during deadline shopping season. The 32-year-old owns a 3.08 ERA with 94 strikeouts in 99 1/3 innings. His 5-9 record is a result of poor run support, as the Astros have failed to score more than two runs in seven of his losses or no-decisions.
He has made 11 starts against Texas in interleague play over the years, posting a 4-5 mark with a 3.99 ERA.
When Oswalt takes the mound today, he will be taking on one of the most potent offenses in the game and a team that has won 12 of 13. Texas dropped the series opener to snap its 11-game winning streak but bounced back on Saturday with a 7-2 triumph behind Ian Kinsler’s three-run homer and a pair of RBIs from Elvis Andrus.
Josh Hamilton singled in the sixth in the contest, extending his hitting streak to an even 20 games. Hamilton is on fire this month, batting .484 with 27 RBIs.
Hamilton’s surge has helped lift the Rangers to the second-best record in baseball at 45-29.
Texas will send right-hander Tommy Hunter to the mound in the series finale. The 23-year-old has been sharp since making his first start of the season on June 5, allowing two earned runs or less each time out. He is coming off a six-inning effort against the Pittsburgh Pirates last Tuesday in which he struck out six in six innings to earn the win.