Texas @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 31, 2013 ) Texas 2, Houston 8

The Texas Rangers’ new-look lineup did not fare so well against Bud Norris in Sunday's season opener. The Rangers will take their hacks at Lucas Harrell when they visit the Houston Astros again Tuesday. Texas lost middle-of-the-lineup threats Josh Hamilton, Mike Napoli and Michael Young in the off-season and managed six hits in the opener. The Astros are trying to clinch their first series as an American League team.

Justin Maxwell tripled twice to key the offense in Houston’s 8-2 victory Sunday and has been made one of the faces of the franchise’s revamped roster. The Astros are counting on players such as Maxwell, Matt Dominguez, Chris Carter and Jose Altuve to keep them competitive in the AL West. Determined not to lose another piece of its core, Texas reportedly signed shortstop Elvis Andrus to an eight-year, $120 million extension on Monday’s off day. Andrus went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts in the opener, but is locked into the No. 2 spot in the lineup between Ian Kinsler and former Houston star Lance Berkman.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FSSW (Texas), CSN (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Yu Darvish (2012: 16-9, 3.90 ERA) vs. Astros RH Lucas Harrell (11-11, 3.76)

Darvish struggled at times during his 2012 rookie campaign but put everything together down the stretch, going 4-0 with a 1.85 ERA in his final six starts of the regular season. The Japanese right-hander looked strong in spring training and appears poised to increase his strikeout total of 221 from last season. Darvish faced the Astros once, punching out 11 while allowing two runs on seven hits in eight innings to earn a win June 15.

Harrell was one of the few pleasant surprises during Houston’s disastrous 2012 campaign, consistently putting together quality starts and making up for some command issues by striking out 140 batters. The 27-year-old made two starts against the Rangers last season, picking up a win at Minute Maid Park on May 19 before getting pounded for five runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings at Texas on June 16. “They’ve got a good lineup,” Harrell told the Astros’ website of the Rangers, “and I need to definitely be on my game.”

WALK-OFFS

1. Maxwell homered off Darvish last season.

2. Andrus’ deal reportedly will be tacked on to the two years he has remaining on his current contract, keeping him with the Rangers until 2022, though an opt-out clause could put him back on the market in 2018.

3. Berkman has hit safely in his last 13 games at Minute Maid Park, including all 10 games as an opponent.

PREDICTION: Rangers 4, Astros 1