ARLINGTON, Texas — The Silver Boot perhaps means something in Texas for the first time in a long time. The traditional inter-state series between the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros kicks off fairly early this year, as this is just the third series of the season for both teams.
Last year, the story was all about the dynastic Houston Astros trying to keep the upstart Texas Rangers down. Instead, those Rangers unseated the Astros in a dramatic, seven-game American League Championship series and went on to win their first World Series.
The spotlight will be on the state of Texas for this weekend series, as several national broadcasts will put what has been a brewing rivalry to the forefront as the baseball world gets a look at what the Lone Star Series has become in an era of October combatants.
Houston Astros (2-5, 4th Place AL West) @ Texas Rangers (4-2, 1st Place AL West)
Previously, for Houston…
The 2024 season has not been a “dynasty” like start for the Astros. In fact, it’s been quite the opposite, as the team opened their campaign with its worst record since 2011, back when they were intentionally trying to lose.
But the Astros to start the 2024 season are not the Astros that closed out 2023. Future Hall of Fame manager Dusty Baker has retired, replaced by longtime bench coach Joe Espada. Justin Verlander, who began his second stint with the Astros after being traded from the Mets last summer, suffered an issue with his shoulder during camp and is still ramping up to debut.
Jose Urquidy, another starter for the Astros, is also rehabbing from an ominous forearm strain. Kendall Graveman, also in his second stint with the club, underwent shoulder surgery in January and won’t pitch with the team at all this year. Several middle relievers such as Phil Maton, Hector Neris, and Ryne Stanek moved on to other teams.
As they work to figure out their new and missing parts, the team was swept in the opening four-game set against the New York Yankees. There were very few redeeming parts to the series, as the club was outscored 21-11. Their remixed bullpen, now featuring All-Star closer Josh Hader, failed them several times in the series and gave up leads, with Hader himself sporting a 6.75 ERA in four appearances.
Setup man Bryan Abreu returned after a two-game suspension for throwing at Adolis Garcia in the ALCS and was entirely ineffective. Over that series, the Astros hit a measly .195 with runners in scoring position.
Following that humiliation by the Yankees, the Astros rebounded to take two from the Toronto Blue Jays, including a no-hitter from 30-year old Ronel Blanco making his 8th career start.
Though Houston got heavily outscored against the Yankees, the team was able to quickly turn it around and held the Blue Jays to just two runs over the course of the three-game set, after Toronto had scored 20 in four games in their opening series in Tampa Bay.
While Houston may be in fourth place in the AL West, riding a 2-5 start, they still feature some prominent Ranger killers and one of the best sets of backend relievers in the game.
What to watch for
Game 7, 7:05 PM CT - RHP Hunter Brown (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. LHP Cody Bradford (1-0, 3.60 ERA)
Game 8, 6:10 PM CT - TBD vs. RHP Jon Gray (0-0, 12.27 ERA)
Game 9, 6:10 PM CT - RHP Ronel Blanco (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Dane Dunning (1-0, 4.26 ERA)
Game 10, 7:05 PM CT - LHP Framber Valdez (0-0, 2.19 ERA) vs. LHP Andrew Heaney (0-1, 1.93 ERA)
Texas does not have the starting pitching advantage in this series. Nathan Eovaldi closed out the series in Tampa Bay and will not face the Astros this time around. Instead, Cody Bradford will take the hill in the series opener, coming off a decent start where he surrendered just two runs and three hits over five innings in a victory over Chicago. The youngster showed resilience, overcoming a rough first couple of innings and kept the Cubs off the board long enough to earn a win.
Jon Gray will take the ball on Saturday after lasting just 3 ⅔ innings and getting hammered for five runs in a start he would later agree was not his best effort. Gray is being counted on to be an anchor in the rotation so an improved effort could be the key to this series.
Dane Dunning, meanwhile, was superb in his season debut against Tampa Bay and he’ll take the hill for Sunday Night Baseball national spotlight game. Dunning gave up three runs in 6 ⅓ innings, but held the Rays to just one hit through six innings while displaying rare swing and miss stuff.
Andrew Heaney’s first start of the year was hindered by a key fielding error. He only allowed one unearned run in his 4 ⅔ inning effort against the Rays but finding a way to work deeper in games remains his focus.
On the Houston side, Hunter Brown opens the series after lasting just four innings and throwing 88 pitches against the Yankees in his season debut last Saturday. Brown, who enjoyed success during his rookie season in 2023 while throwing more innings than any American League rookie pitcher, is being relied upon in a bigger role than originally envisioned with several Astros starters out with injury.
Saturday should see the return of J.P. France from the paternity list, though he is not yet officially listed. France’s first start, closing out the series against the Yankees, saw him give up three runs on six hits in 5 ⅔ innings while featuring a new sinker.
Sunday will see Mr. No-Hitter Blanco in his first start since the historic feat. The series finale on Monday will be the third start for the Astros’ Opening Day starter Framber Valdez. Valdez, whom the Rangers touched up for eight runs in two ALCS starts, had a bad outing on Opening Day, but rebounded nicely with 7 ⅔ shutout innings against the Blue Jays this week.
The Astros’ lineup, similar to the one the Rangers sport, has thunder throughout. Jose Abreu and Yordan Alvarez, who were absolute menaces to the Rangers in the postseason, will be flanked by Jose Altuve, still one of the best hitters in the game and riding a seven-game hitting streak, and Alex Bregman, who is not enjoying a great start to the season. Yanier Diaz comes into this series with four two-hit games in a row.
But for all the firepower, the Astros have yet to find the right formula for wins with the bullpen and their lineup alternating good and bad days. With the Rangers riding some series-winning momentum of their own, the Silver Boot Showdown looks to promise high emotion and high drama – fitting for WrestleMania weekend.
Both teams have a chip on their shoulder and both teams will be eyeing early bragging rights in American League West.
Do you think the Rangers will get an early leg up in the Silver Boot series? Share your predictions with Matt on Twitter @FisherWritesMLB.
