Texas Rangers vs. Houston Astros Expert Pick – April 14, 2023
TEXAS RANGERS VS. HOUSTON ASTROS EXPERT PICK AND PREDICTION – April 14, 2023 — The changes that Houston pitcher Luis Garcia made in the spring aren’t really working out very well. Garcia was one of the players most affected by the new rule changes designed to speed up the game, as his delivery came in a way that would now result in several balks.
So far, the results leave a lot to be desired. In two starts, Garcia’s been roughed up for seven runs, and the Astros dropped both games in the process. He managed to avoid a decision against Minnesota, but the offense couldn’t bail him out against the Chicago White Sox, leaving him with an 0-1 mark and an ugly ERA of 7.00.
Things could get worse before they get better against a Texas team that tends not to waste its chances. The Rangers don’t hit as well as the top American League sides, but they do tend to drive in runs when someone gets to scoring position. Texas ranks fifth in MLB with 64 RBIs, and they’ve had to score to overcome the weakness of their starting pitching. When the Rangers get the game to the bullpen, the game usually goes their way, as Texas’ bullpen ranks fifth in ERA at 2.84. But the starters have been a problem, as the team’s overall ERA is 3.95 thanks to the starters’ struggles past the first inning. If the Rangers are going to take advantage of Garcia’s issues, they have to get to him early and give Martin Perez some wiggle room.
