When you sign-up through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more >
Beginner friendly
Fantastic odds
Bet $20 Win $200 in Free Bets
21+ CO, VA, MI Only | Terms and conditions apply
Since opening the season 4-1, Houston hasn’t been the team many thought it would be going 5-8 over the past 13 games. But the Astros are at their best when their ace, Justin Verlander is on the mound. It’s supposed to be a warm 85 degrees in Arlington on Thursday so the ball could fly for an Astros team looking to get their bats going.
Garcia’s 2021 record: (7-6)
See who are the favorites to win MLB World Series!
He didn’t pitch all of 2021 and made just a handful of starts in 2020 before undergoing Tommy John surgery, but still, Justin Verlander doesn’t look as if he’s missed a beat to begin the 2022 season.
Verlander has played three prolific offenses so far – the Angels, Mariners and BLue Jays – yet he’s given up just four runs in 19 innings. He allowed one run in five innings in his debut, before throwing eight shutout innings in a win over Seattle and giving up three runs in six innings against Toronto.
Two of his three outings have been quality starts and he continues to limit baserunners, ranking second in the league in WHIP (0.74) and 12th in ERA (1.69). Verlander has a 5:1 strikeout to walk ratio and just about the only way he gets beat is the long ball – he’s given up three solo shots on the season.
Martin Perez for the Rangers was fantastic his last time out after two mediocre starts to open the season. In his first two appearances he gave up three runs in four innings both times, picking up a loss in each. But last week, he shut down the Athletics, throwing six shutout innings while giving up just two hits.
On the season, Perez is 0-2 with a 3.86 ERA and 1.36 WHIP.
After losing five of six contests, Houston has put back-to-back wins together against the Rangers. But even with those victories, a few questions remain about the offense.
The Astros got just six and seven hits respectively in the past two games, but were able to get the timely ones – a three-run double by Kyle Tucker on Wednesday and a two-run shot by Tucker on Tuesday – to get the wins.
All players not named Tucker have combined to drive in just three runs the past two games.
Texas, meanwhile, is looking to get its big bats going. The Rangers spent half-a-billion dollars to add middle infielders Corey Seager and Marcus Semien and so far the two have combined to do almost nothing.
Seager is hitting .243 and with only two extra-base hits on the season leading to just a .589 OPS. Somehow, Semien has struggled even more, hitting just .167 so far this season with no home runs and a .457 OPS. If those two don’t get going, the Rangers season is done before it begins.
For the Astros, the x-factor is going to be a right-handed hitter against the southpaw perez. That rules out some of the biggest and best hitters in the lineup, like Michael Brantley, Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker. Insead, we will look at the young shortstop Jeremy Pena.
Pena replaced Carlos Correa, a tough ask to begin with but despite a relatively quiet last week where he went 2-for-21 – although one of those hits was a huge two-run walkoff home run against the Blue Jays – he’s been pretty decent this season. Look for him to get going again against a southpaw.
For Texas, we’re going to look at those people who have extra pop in their bat, because if you’re going to beat Verlander it has to be with the long ball. That’s going to be first baseman Nathaniel Lowe.
Lowe is hitting .400 this year against right-handed pitchers with a .455 OBP. He has one home run and nine RBIs on the season with an .878 OPS.
Free play options
Special contests for newbies
Bet $5 Get $200 in Bonus Bets
21+ | Terms and conditions apply
Wide range of betting options
Top notch customer service
Promo Code 'SPORTS'
$500 Free Bet
21+ | VA only | Gambling problem? Call 1-800-532-3500
Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers Information | |
Teams | Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers |
Location | Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas |
Time | Tuesday, April 28, 2:05 p.m. EST |
How to watch | Bally Sports Southwest, AT&T Sportsnet Southwest |
Bet $20 Win $200 in Free Bets
21+ CO, VA, MI Only | Terms and conditions apply
Tony writes about baseball for WSN.com after recently graduating with his Masters from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Prior to that, Tony was a local sports reporter for MLive Media Group, based out of Jackson, Michigan where he covered everything from high school to professional sports. He graduated from Michigan State in 2015 with a degree in journalism. During his time there he covered the Michigan State football and men’s basketball teams from 2013-15 and hosted a sports radio show on WDBM 89FM.
More info on Tony Garcia
© Rebel Penguin ApS 2023 (a subsidiary of Gaming Innovation Group Inc.)
We support responsible gambling. 21+ Only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
WSN.com is run by iGaming Cloud Inc (a Gaming Innovation Group Subsidiary) and is registered with the New Jersey
Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) under affiliate vendor ID
89744,
with the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) under certificate of registration number SWR-000148, approved by
the
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board as a gaming service provider, under certificate registration number
117656-1,
possesses a Vendor Minor sports betting license from the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission (account
number 94414163), granted a vendor registration number VR007603-20-001 by the Michigan Gaming Control Board,
an
interim Sports Wagering Supplier license, under license number SWS 066, issued by the West Virginia Lottery
Commission, a sports betting vendor registration, under registration number #100400, issued by the Director
of
Gaming Licensing and Investigations of the Virginia Lottery to operate in the State of Virginia, and a
Vendor
Registration issued by the Sports Wagering Committee of the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation.
Advertising disclosure: WSN contains links to online retailers on its website. When people click on our
affiliate links and make purchases, WSN earns a commission from our partners, including ESPN and various
sportsbooks.