The Texas Rangers (46–48) head to Daikin Park to face the Houston Astros (55–38) on Friday, July 11 at 8:10 PM ET, opening a three-game AL West rivalry series. With the season series tied 2–2 and both teams trending in opposite directions, this matchup could shift the division race heading into the All-Star break.
Team Form & Standings
| Team | Record | Last 5 Games | Home/Away Split |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Astros | 55–38 | W–W–L–L–L | 32–17 (Home) |
| Texas Rangers | 46–48 | L–L–W–L–W | 20–29 (Away) |
- Astros were swept by Cleveland, scoring just 7 runs across 3 games.
- Rangers crushed the Angels 11–4 on Thursday, with Marcus Semien collecting 4 hits and 3 RBI.
Starting Pitchers
Houston Astros – Lance McCullers Jr. (RHP)
- Record: 2–3
- ERA: 5.82
- WHIP: 1.58
- Last Start: 6 IP, 1 ER vs Dodgers
- Note: Has walked 4 batters in 3 straight starts; ranks bottom 20% in xERA, barrel rate, and hard-hit rate
Texas Rangers – Jack Leiter (RHP)
- Record: 4–6
- ERA: 4.32
- WHIP: 1.33
- Last Start: 3.2 IP, 2 ER vs Padres
- Note: Winless in last 6 starts; poor metrics in xERA, exit velocity, and chase rate
Key Players to Watch
Houston Astros
- Jose Altuve: .316 AVG over last 5 games; 51 RBI on the season
- Isaac Paredes: 19 HR, 49 RBI – ranks 2nd among AL third basemen
- Jake Meyers: .308 AVG, 15 doubles – day-to-day with calf injury
Texas Rangers
- Marcus Semien: .239 AVG, 10 HR – batting .391 lifetime vs McCullers
- Corey Seager: 3 HR, 7 RBI in last 10 games
- Josh Smith: .287 AVG – team leader in batting average
- Astros are 23–12 when favored at –135 or worse
- Rangers have hit the Over in 7 of their last 10 games, scoring 32 runs in their last 3
- McCullers vs Semien: Semien batting .391 in 28 plate appearances
Game Storylines
- Pitching Woes: Both starters have ERAs above 4.30 and rank poorly in advanced metrics, suggesting a high-scoring affair.
- Injury Watch: Astros are missing Yordan Alvarez, Jeremy Peña, Chas McCormick, and several pitchers due to IL stints
- Offensive Momentum: Rangers have scored 8+ runs in 3 straight games; Astros rank top 10 in slugging and OPS
- Division Stakes: Astros lead the AL West; Rangers trail by 9 games but have gained ground this week.
Game Details
- Matchup: Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros
- Date: Friday, July 11, 2025
- Time: 8:10 PM ET
- Venue: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
- Broadcast: MLB.tv (Free Game of the Day)
Game Odds
Texas Rangers 8
Houston Astros – 135
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Thursday, July 10, 2025
