Astros, Rangers Meet With First Place in Division at Stake

HOUSTON, TX — There’s a lot more than the Silver Boot riding on this weekend’s series between the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers.

First place in the American League West Division is on the line when the two Lone Star State rivals meet for a three-game set that begins tonight in Houston.

The Rangers (55-54) enter the series leading the division race by just half a game, while the Astros (55-55) have a 6-4 edge in the season series.

Here are the scenarios that can play out:

• The Astros will win the Silver Boot with one win this weekend, giving them state bragging rights for the seventh straight year (though the Rangers won the World Series in 2023)

• The Astros will take the division lead with two or more wins

• The Rangers will claim the Silver Boot with a series sweep, which would also give them a 3.5-game division lead

The final series of the season between these teams is shaping up to be their most important since they met in the 2023 AL Championship Series, when the Rangers pulled off a thrilling seven-game win.

The Rangers took three of four games from Seattle last week to strengthen their hold on the division lead, but they’re coming off back-to-back losses to the AL-leading Tampa Bay Rays.

The Astros, meanwhile, who have had a losing record nearly all season, have suddenly found momentum with eight wins in their last nine games.

Both teams may need to win the division to get in the playoffs, because neither would be in otherwise. Cleveland currently holds the third and final wild card playoff spot with a half-game lead over the Rangers.

The series opener will begin at 7:15 p.m. tonight at Daikin Park in Houston. The starting pitching matchup is Texas’ Nate Eovaldi vs. Houston’s Hunter Brown.

A player to watch is Houston slugger Yordan Alvarez, who is making a run at the first Major League Baseball Triple Crown since Mickey Mantle in 1956 (Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera accomplished the AL Triple Crown in 2012).

Alvarez leads MLB with 35 home runs, is second with 80 RBIs and he’s third with a .321 batting average.