Win a $5 Wager on the Rangers vs. Astros at SI Sportsbook and Earn $100 With Promo Code VIBONUS

Jose Urquidy
(Getty Images)

It’ll be a Texas tussle on Tuesday night when the Texas Rangers head to the Houston Astros for the opener of a three-game set. First pitch is slated for 8:10 p.m. ET from Minute Maid Park. Coverage will be on each team’s regional sports channel as well as MLB.TV.   

This will be an intriguing pitching matchup between a lefty and a righty. Lefty Martin Perez will take the mound for the Rangers. Righty Jose Urquidy is the starting pitcher for the Astros. Perez is 9-2 with an ERA of 2.47. Urquidy has a 10-4 record, and his ERA is 3.62. 

SI Sportsbook is giving a welcome offer via signing up through the VIBONUS promo code. If you’re victorious in your first bet of at least $5 on -120 odds or greater at SI Sportsbook, you'll win $100 in free bet tokens. The free bet tokens are delivered into your account right after the qualifying bet is settled. The free wager stakes are not included in your winnings.

Prior to the action on Aug. 8, the AL West-best Astros were tied with the New York Yankees and New York Mets for the most wins. The Astros are 11 games ahead in the division from the second-place Seattle Mariners

The Rangers are third place in the AL West and are 21 games worse than their Texas rival. 

The Rangers are 2-3 in their last five contests. They most recently split a four-game set with the visiting Chicago White Sox. The Rangers dropped the final game 8-2. 

The Astros are 3-2 in their last five games. They’re on a two-game losing streak after splitting a four-game series against the host Cleveland Guardians. The Astros lost the last game 1-0. 

Perez has allowed 114 hits, eight home runs, and 38 walks plus has thrown 116 strikeouts in 131 innings. The Rangers are 3-2 in Perez’s last five outings. In Perez’s last game vs. the Baltimore Orioles on Aug. 3, he allowed one earned run and had nine strikeouts in six innings. 

Urquidy has given up 108 hits, 17 home runs, and 24 walks in addition to throwing 90 strikeouts in 114.1 innings. The Astros are 4-1 in Urquidy’s last five games. In Urquidy’s last outing vs. the Boston Red Sox on Aug. 3, he allowed no earned runs and two hits while tossing 10 strikeouts in seven innings. 

Prior to the action on Aug. 8, the Rangers ranked eighth in home runs (133), 13th in slugging percentage (.395), 15th in RBI (454), 21st in batting average (.239) and 25th in on-base percentage (.301). First baseman Nathan Rowe leads the Rangers in batting average (.285), on-base percentage (.333), and hits (111). Shortstop Corey Seager is tops on the Rangers in home runs (24). Right fielder Adolis Garcia has a team-best 70 RBI. 

SI Sportsbook: Bet $5, Win $100

Before the games on Aug. 8, the Astros ranked third in home runs (151), sixth in slugging percentage (.422), 11th in on-base percentage (.316) and RBI (471) and 16th in batting average (.241). 

Designated hitter Yordan Alvarez leads the Astros in batting average (.300), home runs (30), RBI (73), and on-base percentage (.407). Second baseman Jose Altuve has a team-best 100 hits and is tied for second on the team in home runs (19). Right fielder Kyle Tucker is tied for second in home runs (19) and is second in RBI (67). 

The Rangers are 61-47 against the spread overall and 32-22 against the spread on the road. For over/under, the Rangers are 51-53-4 overall and 25-26-3 on the road. 

The Astros are 56-54 against the spread overall and 25-26 against the spread at home. In terms of over/under, the Astros are 39-68-3 overall and 19-30-2 at home. 

Look for the Astros to heat up behind the plate to cruise to a commanding victory vs. their in-state foe in Tuesday night's matchup

Written by Rolando Rosa, our US sports betting industry expert.