Texas @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 21, 2019 ) Texas 3, Houston 5

The Houston Astros are in a battle with the New York Yankees for the best record in the American League and the top spot in the AL playoffs and don’t appear to be ready to ease off the gas despite a comfortable division lead. The Astros will try to extend their latest winning streak to four when they host the Texas Rangers on Tuesday in the opener of a two-game series.

Houston ripped through a three-game series at Kansas City over the weekend, winning by a combined 22-5, and is tied with the Yankees at 98-53 - two wins away from clinching the franchise’s third consecutive 100-win campaign. The Astros, who will play their final 11 regular-season games against sub-.500 division foes, are getting production from up and down the lineup and watched outfielder Josh Reddick carry the load with a career-high five hits in Sunday’s 12-3 triumph. The Rangers are trying to finish the season with a winning record but dropped three in a row to the Oakland Athletics over the weekend to fall to 74-77 and will only see teams with winning records the rest of the way - Houston, Oakland, Boston and New York. Texas gets a tough test Tuesday from Houston ace Justin Verlander while countering with veteran righty Lance Lynn.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Lance Lynn (14-10, 3.72 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Justin Verlander (18-6, 2.58)

Lynn is winless in his last seven starts but is coming off a strong effort against Tampa Bay last Tuesday in which he yielded one run and four hits in seven innings without factoring in the decision. The 32-year-old surrendered one earned run in four of his last seven outings but watched the offense score three or fewer runs in each game. Lynn struck out 12 at Houston on July 21 but was charged with four runs in seven innings and absorbed a loss.

Verlander is battling teammate Gerrit Cole for the AL Cy Young Award and leads the league in ERA while ranking second to Cole in strikeouts (292 to 275). Verlander struck out 11 over six innings against Oakland on Thursday but allowed three runs and ended up with the loss in a 3-2 final. The former MVP is 4-0 with a 2.70 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 30 innings spread across five starts against Texas this season.

WALK-OFF

1. Astros SS Carlos Correa (back) could come off the injured list Tuesday.

2. Rangers C Jeff Mathis (back strain) is not expected to play in the series.

3. Houston RHP Josh James owns 95 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings.

PREDICTION: Astros 9, Rangers 2