Texas Rangers at Houston Astros 8/9/22 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Texas Rangers play the second game of a three-game series on the road Tuesday against the Houston Astros. Texas dropped to 48-60 following its 8-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday. Texas split a four-game series with the White Sox at home over the weekend and the Rangers are third in the American League West, 21 games behind the first-place Houston Astros.

Nathaniel Lowe is batting .285 to lead Texas and the first baseman has team highs in hits with 111 and on-base percentage at .333. Shortstop Corey Seager is the leader in home runs with 24 and right fielder Adolis Garcia is the leader in RBIs with 70. On Tuesday, the Texas Rangers will send Martin Perez to the mound. The left-hander is 9-2 with a 2.47 ERA, 116 Ks and 38 BBs.

The Houston Astros dropped to 70-40 following a 1-0 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday. Houston was held to a pair of hits in the loss. The Astros have lost two straight but prior to that, had won three straight. Houston's pitching staff is one of baseball's best with a team ERA of 2.98, which is second. The Astros are first in the American League West, 11 games ahead of the second-place Seattle Mariners. 

Designated hitter Yordan Alvarez is batting .300 to lead Houston and has team highs in home runs with 30, RBIs with a 70 and on-base percentage of .407. Second baseman Jose Altuve is the leader in hits with 100. On Tuesday, the Houston Astros will send Jose Urquidy to the mound. The right-hander is 10-4 with a 3.62 ERA, 90 Ks and 24 BBs.