Texas @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 22, 2011 ) Houston 5, Texas 3

THE STORY: Rumors over the past few weeks about realignment have centered on moving the Houston Astros to the American League, in part to set up a more substantial rivalry with the Texas Rangers. For now, though, fans will have to make due with the six interleague games on the schedule. The lowly Astros, owners of the worst record in baseball, battled the Rangers tough last weekend but still dropped two of three. Texas hasn’t exactly been blowing people away either, but a lackluster American League West still has them setting the pace in the division. The Rangers will be looking to take advantage of their in-state rivals when they kick off a three-game set at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FSH, FSH

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Jordan Lyles (0-2, 4.20 ERA) vs. Rangers LH C.J. Wilson (7-3, 3.17 ERA).

Lyles will take his sixth crack at earning his first career win. The 20-year-old top prospect has three quality starts in five turns and has struck out 26 batters while issuing only six walks in 30 total innings. Lyles faced Texas last week and went seven innings, allowing three runs on seven hits in a no-decision. Nelson Cruz and Michael Young each homered off the righthander. Wilson has not lost since May 20 but was knocked around a bit while opposing Lyles last week, surrendering four runs and 12 hits in 6 2/3 innings. The veteran lefthander has gone at least 6 2/3 in each of his last five outings. Wilson is 2-1 with a 3.94 ERA in 13 career games – three starts – against Houston.

ABOUT THE ASTROS (28-51): Houston won the series finale 5-3 at Texas last Wednesday but did not have any sort of success against the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend, getting smoked in three straight by a combined score of 26-13. Pitching has been at the heart of the problem all season, and even more so recently, with the staff allowing an average of seven runs over the last six games. The worst of it came Sunday, when the Rays pounded out 19 hits – including three home runs – in a 14-10 triumph. J.A. Happ lasted five innings, surrendering five runs to push his ERA to an unhealthy 5.54, and Wilton Lopez yielded four more before Mark Melancon came on and blew the save, allowing five runs in just 1 1/3 innings.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (41-38): Texas’ pitching has also not been up to the task lately, allowing a total of 22 runs in back-to-back losses to the New York Mets on Saturday and Sunday. Alexi Ogando and Derek Holland – two of the young starters around which the Rangers have been building – were on the losing end, combining to allow 20 hits in nine innings. Slugger Josh Hamilton, who had made news earlier in the week when he attributed his struggles during day games to the fact that he has blue eyes, went ahead and backed up that claim by going 0-for-4 with four strikeouts on Saturday afternoon and then sitting out Sunday. Just three games above .500, Texas is still holding onto a cushion in the AL West as the lone team with a winning record in the division.

FINAL PITCH: Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus is doubtful for the series in Houston due to a sprained left wrist. Andrus left Friday’s game with the injury and was replaced by Andres Blanco on Saturday and Sunday.