TODAY’S GAME: The Houston Astros (47-50) and Texas Rangers (48-47) will play their final game of the first half today in the rubber game of their big three-game series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX.
Both teams named today’s starters postgame last night with the Astros tabbing RHP Cristian Javier (0-1, 10.22 ERA) for the start opposite LHP MacKenzie Gore (5-8, 4.72 ERA), who’ll be working on three-days rest for the Rangers.
ABOUT JAVIER: RHP Cristian Javier, who missed nearly three months of
the season with a right shoulder strain, is returning to the rotation today after making his last two appearances out of the pen. He broke camp in the rotation and made just three starts to open the season before being sidelined.
The veteran Javier, who was limited to eight starts in 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, is 35-23 in his career with a 3.81 ERA.
THE SILVER BOOT SERIES: The Astros are 6-3 vs. the Rangers thus far in the 2026 Silver Boot Series and can win the season series today with a win. Since the start of the 2017 season, the Astros have won or split nine straight season series against the Rangers, going 99-54 vs. the Rangers in that span.
THE SLOW TURNAROUND: After a slow start to the season, the Astros are 27-19 since May 21, which is the best record in the AL in that span. On that date, the Astros were 20-31, 11 games under, which is their low water mark for the season.
Winning Percentage since May 21, AL
1. Astros 27-19 (.587)
T2. Tigers 24-21 (.533)
T2. White Sox 24-21 (.533)
ROAD WARRIORS: The Astros are 17-11 on their last four road trips combined and are 23-17 on the road since going 1-9 on their first road trip of the season. The Astros have won four of their last six road series dating back to May 22.
WINNING THE CLOSE CALLS: The Astros are 9-6 in one-run games and 21-11 in two-run games. Nine of the Astros last 11 wins and 14 of their last 17 victories have come by two-or-fewer runs.
Last night’s 9-3 win was the Astros first win by four-plus runs since June 19 vs. CLE, in a 9-3 win.
TODAY’S ROSTER MOVE: The Astros have traded IF Braden Shewmake to the Brewers in exchange for cash considerations. Shewmake was designated for assignment by the Astros on Friday.
ASTROS AYA ALL-STARS: The Astros Youth Academy has its baseball and softball teams playing in tournaments in Philadelphia this weekend, with the boys participating in the Commissioner’s Cup and the girls participating in the Jennie Finch Classic. These events are a part of MLB’s baseball and softball development events taking place as part of this year’s All-Star Week activities.
ALL-STAR ALVAREZ: DH Yordan Alvarez has been voted by the fans as the starting DH for the AL All-Star team. This marks the fourth All-Star selection for Alvarez (2022-24, 2026) and the second time that he has been voted as a starter (also in 2024).
MVP-CALIBER: DH Yordan Alvarez is a strong MVP candidate, currently leading all of baseball in OPS (1.055), OBP (.422), SLG (.633), and total bases (219). Additionally, he ranks first in the AL in HR (31), first in RBI (70), first in XBH (48), tied for first in hits (109), second in batting average (.315), second in runs (65), and fourth in walks (61).
WHAT A HALF!: DH Yordan Alvarez has hit 31 homers this season, which are the most in a first half in franchise history, topping OF Lance Berkman, who hit 29 homers in the first half of the 2002 season. Alvarez is on pace to hit 51 homers on the season, which would represent a new franchise record, topping the 47 homers hit by 1B Jeff Bagwell in 2000.
SECOND HOME: DH Yordan Alvarez is hitting .455 (10×22) with seven homers, 11 RBI and five walks in six games at Globe Life Field this season. In just 36 career games at Globe Life Field, Alvarez ranks tied for 11th all-time at the stadium in homers (19), just ahead of the Rangers DH Joc Pederson (16 HR in 96g) and 1B Jake Burger (12 HR in 97g).
ON THE MEND: RHP Hayden Wesneski (right elbow surgery) made a rehab start at Triple A last night vs. Albuquerque, tossing 4.2 innings, allowing one run on five hits with seven strikeouts and no walks on 61 pitches.
LHP Bennett Sousa (left elbow inflammation) also pitched at Triple A last night, tossing 1.0 scoreless inning on eight pitches.
TODAY’S FUTURES GAME: The Astros top two prospects, OF Kevin Alvarez and IF Xavier Neyens, will represent the club in the All-Star Futures Game, which will be played today in Philadelphia. Both prospects, which play for Class A Fayetteville, are considered top 100 prospects per MiLB.com, with Alvarez ranking 69th and Neyens 87th overall.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 2016 – 2B Jose Altuve and RHP Will Harris represent the Astros in the All-Star Game, as the AL downs the NL by a score of 4-2 at Petco Park in San Diego. For Altuve, it marked his second All-Star start and fourth overall appearance. Harris, who was making his All-Star debut, pitched out of a huge jam in the 8th inning, striking out the Cardinals PH Aledmys Díaz with the bases loaded to preserve the 4-2 lead.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Sunday, July 12, 1:35 p.m. CT
Location: Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX
TV: SCHN
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
