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Texas Rangers vs. Houston Astros

The division rival Texas Rangers and Houston Astros are set to renew hostilities on Thursday when they meet at Minute Maid Park.

The Rangers will pin their hopes on the pitching of left hander Cole Ragans in this game. Ragans has a 0-0 record and a 0.00 ERA this season.

Ragans's opponent in this one will be Framber Valdez. The Astros left hander has a 2.87 ERA to go along with a 10-4 record this season.

Oddsmakers opened the Astros as -400-moneyline favorites versus the Rangers, while the game's total opened at 7.5.

Houston lost its last outing, a 8-4 result against the Rangers on August 10. Bettors who backed the Rangers at 250 on the moneyline won on the day, and the total score (12) sent OVER bettors to the payout window.

The Rangers were a 8-4 winner in their most recent outing on the road against the Astros. That made winners of bettors who got Texas at 250 on the moneyline, while the total score (12) was good news for OVER bettors.

Texas:
Team record: 49-61 SU
Texas is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Texas is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Texas's last 9 games

Houston:
Team record: 71-41 SU
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Houston's last 10 games
Houston is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games at home
Houston is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games at home

Next up:
Texas home to Seattle Friday, August 12
Houston home to Oakland Friday, August 12