Houston Astros and Rangers First Silver Boot Series Preview

The Houston Astros will host the Texas Rangers for the first three-game set of the 2023 Silver Boot series. Here is what to expect.

Kade Kistner | Apr 13, 2023

Houston Astros and Rangers First Silver Boot Series Preview /

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The Houston Astros (6-7) will host the Texas Rangers (7-5) for a three-game set at Minute Maid Park beginning on Friday. It will be the first matchup of the 2023 Silver Boot series.

Both teams have seen their fair share of successes and struggles this season, but the victor of this first series will very likely be the top dog in the American League West on the other side.

For Houston, their starting pitching, especially the backend of the rotation has struggled. Jose Urquidy has appeared to have come out on the other side and rookie Hunter Brown put together a nice outing his last time on the mound. The only wild card left is Luis Garcia who currently holds a 7.00 ERA through two starts.

The Astros will send Garcia, Brown, and ace Framber Valdez to the mound against Texas during the series.

Offensively, it appears Houston has rounded a corner. Third baseman Alex Bregman struggled mightily to start the season, posting a .411 OPS through the first 10 games. However, he has seen a sharp turn around over the course of the last series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Astros will need Garcia and Brown to step up against a feast or famine Rangers lineup and hope that their offense, who has seen a resurgence, keeps up the pace.

As for Texas, their rotation has been quite good to start the season and their bullpen has been impressive. Both have been able to neutralize opposing lineups with some efficiency.

Houston will face Martín Pérez, Jon Gray, and Andrew Heaney. The latter tied the American League record for consecutive strikeouts in a single game his last time up.

As mentioned above, their offense has either put up an incredible number of runs or has had trouble recording even a hit.

The loss of shortstop Corey Seager to a Grade 2 hamstring strain is likely to not help matters.

Still, they have plenty of power in the lineup in Marcus Semien, Nathaniel Lowe, Adolis Garcia and rookie Josh Jung to make up for it.

They also have new manager Bruce Bochy at the helm. As Astros fans know all too well, veteran management can go a long way in helping right the ship.

For the first time in half a decade, this Silver Boot series could finally be exciting again. Both teams have expectations coming into this season and the Rangers are primed to contend again.

Meanwhile, Houston will set out to prove it is they who still rule the West.

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Published Apr 13, 2023

KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Phillies. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl. During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated. Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.