April 25, 2022 - Game 16
Television and Radio Listings for Today's Game
Rangers TV: Bally Sports Southwest Extra
Rangers Radio: 105.3 The Fan (English); KFLC 1270 (Spanish)
Astros TV: AT&T Sports Houston
Astros Radio: KBME 790; TUDN/KLAT 1010
Overview
The Houston Astros make their first trip to Globe Life Field in 2022. Monday begins a stretch of seven games in which Texas plays the two World Series teams from a year ago, the Astros and Braves. Texas sends Dane Dunning to the mound after Spencer Howard went two innings on Sunday, along with Garrett Richard, who opened with two innings. Dane was a beneficiary of a triple play in his last outing Wednesday against Seattle, which prevented another crooked number in the first against Dunning. He pitched four innings, allowed three runs, six hits, and walked three against the Mariners. There have been some bumps and bruises in the first three starts for Dunning, and outing four is around the time Rangers’ manager Chris Woodward feels like his starters should be, regarding stretched out.
Meanwhile, Texas gets a look at Framber Valdez of the Houston Astros. The Angels bullied Valdez in Houston his last time out, allowing six runs, eight hits, and walking four in 4.1 innings last Tuesday. Walks have been an issue for Valdez in his career. Therefore, I expect the Rangers to be patient and wait for their pitch. As mentioned early in the season, it’s an offense that can adjust to be either aggressive or passive. "I just want [Valdez] to be ready," Rangers manager Chris Woodward said about Adolis García batting second Monday. "The identity of this team need [to be] we're going to attack you from the beginning of the game and not be shy about that." On Sunday, the Rangers could get into good hitters counts but couldn’t capitalize. In his career against the Rangers, Framber Valdez walked nineteen Texas hitters in 32.1 innings pitched. Houston is coming off a walk-off win Sunday against Toronto, a homer hit by rookie Jeremy Peña in the tenth inning. The walk-off winner for the Astros snapped a four-game losing streak the club suffered at home.
Pregame Notables
The Astros and Rangers split ten games at Globe Life Field last season. Overall, Texas is 8-6 against Houston at Globe Life Field but dropped five of the previous seven games.
The Astros have won the Silver Boot Series five straight seasons. The last time the Rangers won the Silver Boot was 2016.
Dane Dunning made two appearances against the Astros last season (one start and one relief appearance). He allowed five runs in six-plus innings with seven strikeouts. The Astros scored four in Dane’s lone start against Houston in the first inning.
In his career, Dane is pitching better with no-run support. He has a 4.07 ERA when the team gives me 0-2 runs, while he has a 5.03 ERA when his club scores 3-5 runs.
The first batter of the game is 11 for 33 lifetime against Dane Dunning
Framber Valdez is making his ninth career pitching appearance, and sixth career start against the Rangers. In his last four starts against Texas, Valdez is 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA. He had a start against Texas on July 24th, where he threw six no-hit innings but walked six Rangers.
Monday will be Valdez’s first outing at Globe Life Field. He allowed seven runs in five innings at the old ballpark throughout three outings.
The Rangers haven't scored in the first inning since Opening Day against the Blue Jays.
-> Dane Dunning's Career Splits with Run Support per Baseball Reference
Lineups
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