Houston @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 10, 2018 ) Houston 8, Texas 7

The Houston Astros enjoyed a rare day off Monday, but that didn't stop Alex Bregman from collecting American League Player of the Month (June) and Player of the Week honors. Bregman bids to continue his torrid stretch as the Astros (55-31) aim to snap a three-game losing skid Tuesday when they open an abbreviated two-game series against the host Texas Rangers (38-47).

Bregman has five homers, 10 RBIs and seven RBIs during his eight-game hitting streak (13-for-28), but is 12-for-54 versus Texas this season. Evan Gattis, who matched Bregman with an AL-best 30 RBIs in June, belted a pair of solo shots in Sunday's 3-2 setback to Tampa Bay. While the Astros have won 10 of 14 encounters versus the Rangers this season, the latter had won 11 of 13 before dropping a 10-5 decision to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday. Shin-Soo Choo carries a 42-game on-base streak into Tuesday's contest versus Houston, against which he is 12-for-52 with 17 strikeouts this season.


TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston), FS Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (4-8, 4.22 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Austin Bibens-Dirkx (1-1, 3.57)

Keuchel answered a scoreless outing with a disastrous one Wednesday, allowing six runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings of a no-decision versus Toronto. The 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner sports a 1-3 mark with a 5.68 ERA in his last eight starts, with a six-run, 13-hit effort in a no-decision against Texas included in that stretch. He fared significantly better versus the Rangers on May 13, scattering three hits and striking out eight over seven scoreless innings in a 6-1 victory.

Bibens-Dirkx followed up a sterling performance in a win at Kansas City with another one strong one versus San Diego last Tuesday, scattering two hits over five innings while striking out six. The 33-year-old didn't help himself with four walks against the Padres after issuing two free passes in his previous three trips to the mound. Bibens-Dirkx has limited experience against the current crop of Astros after he made his major league debut in 2017 following 12 years in the minors.

WALK-OFFS

1. Texas SS Elvis Andrus has hit safely in six straight games overall and is 7-for-13 versus Houston this season.

2. Astros 2B Jose Altuve is a robust 20-for-55 against the Rangers this season.

3. Texas 3B Joey Gallo has four extra-base hits (two homers, triple, double) with four RBIs and six runs scored in his last four games.

PREDICTION: Astros 6, Rangers 3