TONIGHT’S GAME: The Astros and Rangers will renew their rivalry tonight in Arlington, TX, with the first game of a big three-game weekend series at Globe Life Field.
Astros ace RHP Hunter Brown (1-0) will get the start for Houston in what is his seventh start of the season and his first in 2026 opposite the Rangers.
He’ll be opposed by reliever turned starter RHP Cal Quantrill (3-1).
THE SILVER BOOT SERIES: The Astros are 5-2 vs. the Rangers thus far in the 2026 Silver Boot Series, which includes winning
three of four in Arlington earlier this season from May 25-28.
Since the start of the 2017 season, the Astros have won or split nine straight season series against the Rangers, going 98-53 against the Rangers in that span.
THIS WEEKEND’S TELECASTS: All three games this series will be televised by Space City Home Network with Kevin Eschenfelder, Geoff Blum and Lauren Callender on the call.
Shelby Coppedge and Brian Bogusevic will host the pre and postgame shows from the SCHN studio.
SUPPORT FOR VENEZUELA: The Astros Foundation held incredibly successful relief drives last week to support Venezuela after devastating earthquakes hit the country on June 24.
With combined efforts from the Astros Foundation, several of the Astros partners and many Astros fans, the group put together 115 pallets of non-perishable food items, household needs, hygiene items and more, which will make their way to Venezuela.
THE SLOW TURNAROUND: After a slow start to the season, the Astros are 26-18 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.
ROAD WARRIORS: The Astros are 16-10 on their last four road trips combined and are 22-16 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 10 wins and 14 of their last 16 victories have come by two-or-fewer runs.
The last time the Astros won a game by four-plus runs was on June 19 vs. CLE, in a 9-3 win.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEVE!: The Astros would like to wish a Happy Birthday to LHP Steven Okert, who turned 35 yesterday.
Despite being the eldest member of the Astros bullpen, Okert leads the club and ranks third in the AL in appearances (44).
WEDNESDAY IN WASHINGTON: The Astros dropped the rubber game of their three-game series in Washington on Wednesday night by a score of 8-2.
3B Isaac Paredes (2×4) and LF Zach Dezenzo (2×3) both picked up two-hit games in the contest.
1B Christian Walker (1×4) reached a milestone, hitting his 200th career double.
TODAY’S ROSTER MOVES: The Astros have reinstated SS Jeremy Peña from the 10-day IL and have designated IF Braden Shewmake for assignment.
Additionally, RHP Kai-Wei Teng began a minor league rehab assignment for the FCL Astros today, pitching 1.0 scoreless inning.
BROTHER BROWN: RHP Hunter Brown will make his seventh start of the season tonight and his fifth since returning from a lengthy stint on the IL with a right shoulder strain.
He has shown some rust upon his return, but has been effective on the seaon, posting a 3.38 ERA (11ER/29.1IP) while allowing 23 hits in 29.1 IP (.213 opp. avg.) with 35 strikeouts.
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 (1.030), OBP (.416), SLG (.614), and total bases (208).
Additionally, he ranks first in the AL in HR (29), first in RBI (67), tied for first in XBH (45), second in hits (105), second in batting average (.310), third in runs (62), and tied for fourth in walks (59).
THE LONG BALL LIST: DH Yordan Alvarez has hit 199 career homers and is looking become the sixth player in club history to reach the 200-homer mark.
SECOND HOME: DH Yordan Alvarez had a huge four-game series in Arlington earlier this season, hitting .400 (6×15) with five homers, eight RBI, six runs scored and three walks in the four contests.
In just 34 career games at Globe Life Field, Alvarez ranks 12th all-time at the stadium in home runs (17), just ahead of the Rangers DH Joc Pederson (15 HR in 93g) and 1B Jake Burger (11 HR in 94g).
BEST IN TEXAS: 2B Jose Altuve has 38 home runs and 101 RBI in his career vs. the Rangers, which are his most vs. any opponent.
All-time in MLB history opposite the Rangers, Altuve ranks fifth in runs scored (144), seventh in homers (38), and eighth in hits (242).
CONGRATS JV!: The Astros would like to congratulate RHP Justin Verlander on an incredible career after he announced on Wednesday that he would retire following the season.
Verlander pitched parts of seven seasons with the Astros (2017-19, 2021-24) and had some of his best years, winning two World Series titles (2017, 2022), being named an All-Star three times (2018-19, 2022), and earning two Cy Young awards (2019, 2022) in an Astros uniform.
FEELING DRAFTY: The first day of the MLB Draft begins tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. CT and will include rounds 1-4 of a scheduled 20.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Friday, July 10, 7:05 p.m. CT
Location: Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
