We got a huge pitching match-up in Houston tonight with Framber Valdez pitching against Jacob deGrom, but the side story is that the Astros have lost four straight after sweeping the Dodgers last weekend. That's the beginning of me liking deGrom in this matchup. Valdez gave up four runs in his last start, but also didn't allow any runs in his previous two starts. The Rangers lost 6-5 to the Angels in deGrom’s last start, but he won his previous six starts, getting the winning decision in five of them. He looks like he is back in prime form. The Rangers have won three of their last four. Texas to win.

FanDuel. As great as Jacobs DeGrom has been this season, his strikeout rate against right handed batters is a pedestrian 21%. That’s pertinent in today’s matchup, as he’s likely to face 7-8 right handed hitters in the Astros lineup. Overall, DeGrom is under this line in ten of eighteen starts. While he did finish with seven strikeouts in his previous matchup with the Astros, he faced a season high 30 hitters (five more than any other start). The Astros overall are a tough team to strikeout (20.6% versus righties on the season).

Framber Valdez is having a terrific season but this is a big number for him. He’s facing a Rangers lineup that has been very stingy as of late and has taken nearly 200 combined at bats against Valdez.

Maybe we have a real pitcher's duel here between Jacob deGrom and Framber Valdez. Except that neither of these two is likely to last beyond the sixth inning if that far. And the chances of a low-scoring affair have been lessened by the presence of the Rangers, whose offense continued its recent surge in last night's 7-3 win. That's now 44 runs scored across the past five games for the surging Texas offense, with overs in each of those contests. Also note Valdez is off of his worst start since the beginning of May, allowing 4 runs and 7 hits (plus his first homers since May) in 6 IP vs. the Dodgers last Saturday. Play Rangers-Astros Over