Rangers’ Hamels targets milestone vs. Astros
Just six strikeouts shy of 2,000 for his career, Cole Hamels would appear to have the ideal set of whiffers on deck.
The reinvigorated lefty and his Rangers try to extend their dominance over the Astros tonight, with an 8:05 p.m. ET first pitch at Global Life Park. Oddsmakers at online sports book BetDSI lean toward the hosts. A.J. Hinch’s squad, conversely, enters as a -105 underdog.
Jeff Banister’s troops sent Houston to its 11th straight loss in Arlington, 6-5, on Monday. The Stros (28-31) now sit eight games behind Texas in the American League West standings. Dallas Keuchel (3-7, 5.50 ERA) doesn’t seem likely to snap such a skid either. The reigning Cy Young winner holds a middling 4-6 lifetime record against the Rangers.
On the flip side, Hamels (5-1, 3.39) keeps authoring outings that bring to mind his early-decade supremacy with the Phillies. Not only has the 2008 World Series MVP gone 4-0 with a 2.75 ERA vs. division foes in 2016, he’s 12-2 overall since joining Texas last July. With Yu Darvish finally healthy, too, there probably isn’t a better one-two punch in the AL.
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Something tells us that Keuchel will rise to the occasion this evening. Which bullpen caves, though, once the star hurlers must exit? The Rangers (35-22) should ultimately claim their fifth triumph of the month, but don’t expect an easy journey.
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