Time for the tables to turn?
Teams’ starts indicate an often one-sided Lone Star Series could be primed for a shift
Despite the Astros’ stellar start through April, an interstate nemesis can spoil it on Monday, when the Texas Rangers visit Minute Maid Park for a four-game set.
The Rangers (11-13) have dominated the Astros (15-9) in their heated AL West rivalry the past two seasons. Going 28-10, the Rangers outscored the Astros 200-150.
The significance of losing the Lone Star Series became difficult to deny. After allowing a ninth-inning run that gave the Rangers a 6-5 win in Arlington on June 6 last season, Ken Giles said: “It’s frustrating. We have more talent than this team does, I believe, and we shouldn’t be losing these kinds of ballgames and stuff like that. … So we’re going to go out there tomorrow and put ’em to the ground.”
The Astros proceeded to lose two of the remaining three games in the series.
Last year, the Astros went 7-17 in April, while the Rangers 14-10, including a threegame sweep of the Astros at Arlington. The Astros were seven games back in the division heading into May.
The past may never truly be the past, as William Faulkner once wrote, but the Texas franchises appear headed in opposite directions a month into 2017. The Astros hold a three-game division lead with a loaded lineup that consistently has mounted comebacks and a bullpen that has preserved them. The Rangers’ anemic offense and relief pitching has squandered games.
“When I joined the Rangers, they were playing good baseball,” Astros left fielder Carlos Beltran said.
The Rangers had acquired Beltran from the Yankees last August for a playoff push. Beltran hit .344, slugged .594 and drove in nine runs in nine Lone Star Series games.
“Looking at the Rangers last year and looking at the Astros this year, it’s a similar environment,” Beltran said. “Now that I’m on this side, knowing what this team went through against the Rangers, I could tell every time the Rangers come here, it’s a great atmosphere.”
Statistically speaking
Entering Saturday, the Astros had a top offense and the Rangers dwelled near the bottom in the AL. The Astros ranked third with a .268 team batting average and seventh with a .760 OPS. The Rangers ranked 28th (.219) and 22nd (.693).
Astros hitters have been relentless. They have the AL’s best batting average (.302) with runners in scoring position. More remarkably, they are batting .354 with two outs in that situation — more than 50 points higher than the second-best team, the White Sox.
By leading the AL in ERA, posting a 0.87 WHIP and striking out 32 batters in 162⁄3 innings, Astros reliever Chris Devenski almost singlehandedly has made baseball aware of the Astros’ unforgiving bullpen, which ranks in the AL’s top five in ERA, opposing batting average and strike outs.
Rangers starters rank second with a 3.27 ERA, but their bullpen has been a disaster. Texas’ relief ERA is 5.15 (the Astros’ is 2.83), with only two of seven save opportunities converted. Sam Dyson began the year 0-for-3 in save chances with an ERA of 21.94 and two strike outs and has been removed as closer.
The Rangers’ typical stalwarts have soured. With the exception of Elvis Andrus batting .284, no starter in the lineup was batting above .258.
Rangers second baseman Rouged Odor had been a prolific problem for the Astros, ever since he ignited a brawl in 2015. He recorded 23 hits and drove in 19 runs in 18 games against the Astros last season. This season, he is hitting .191.
Adrian Beltre, likely headed to the Hall of Fame one day, has not played because of a calf strain. Although the team has missed his consistency, Joey Gallo has stepped up. He has been a bright spot with seven home runs, 16 RBIs and a .985 OPS. He had one at-bat against the Astros last year.
Home-field advantage
With the momentum seemingly shifting, the Astros have an established advantage at home. In road games against AL West rivals last year, the Rangers hit worst in Houston. They recorded their fewest hits and runs, but most noticeably, they homered seven times at Minute Maid Park, a meager amount considering they finished the season with the seventh-most total home runs in the AL.
If the Astros are to continue keeping the Rangers’ bats at bay, they will have to do so without ace Dallas Keuchel, who is schedule to finish the series against the Athletics on Sunday. hunter.atkins@chron.com twitter.com/hunteratkins35