On the sunny afternoon of August 7, 2024, the Houston Astros are set to duel the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. The first pitch is slated for 2:35 PM under a clear sky. Houston’s Yusei Kikuchi, with an ERA of 4.673, will take the mound against Texas’s José Ureña, who enters the game with a 3.697 ERA.

In the 2024 AL West standings, the Astros are currently 8th with a record of 58-55, reflecting a .51 win percentage. They hold a regional record of 20-18, ranking 2nd in their division. Houston has recently picked up pace with four wins in their last ten games, including a current winning streak of one game. With a home record of 32-26 and an away record of 26-29, they have scored 513 runs and conceded 471 this season.

Conversely, the Rangers find themselves in 10th place in the same division, with a 54-60 record and a .47 win percentage. They are 3rd in the division with a 14-17 record against divisional competitors. Despite struggling recently with only three wins in their last ten games and currently on a losing streak of one, they have been stronger at home with a 31-26 record compared to a 23-34 record on the road. The Rangers have scored 481 runs and allowed 502 runs.

Looking at the betting odds, the point spread is set at 1.5, and the over/under is capped at 9.0. For those considering moneyline bets, the Astros are -119 away while the Rangers are pegged at 100 at home. With these odds, the Astros are slight favorites. Punters might find value in considering the Astros’ recent modest win streak and slightly better season performance over the Rangers, albeit the matchup promises to be closely contested.