Texas Rangers (46-48, third in the AL West) vs. Houston Astros (55-38, first in the AL West) Houston; Friday, 8:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Rangers: Jack Leiter (4-6, 4.32 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 63 strikeouts);

Houston's Isaac Paredes was named to the All-Star Game this week as an injury replacement for Cleveland's Jose Ramirez at third base, a fitting development considering how seamlessly Paredes has fit in with the Astros in his first season with the club.

Despite Jeff Passan pointing out the Astros' bad farm system, he makes a suggestion of who the team should trade for at the deadline.

As spring training opened ahead of the 2025 season, the Astros transitioned Altuve from second base to left field after his defensive metrics dipped in recent seasons. The move was designed to play a more athletic defender in the infield while allowing slugger Yordan Alvarez to assume full-time duties as the team’s designated hitter.

Both the Rangers and the Astros donated $1 million to relief efforts after flooding devastated the central part of the state last weekend.

Espada surprised Smith by inviting Scott Benedict, an assistant baseball coach at Smith’s high school, nearby Palm Beach Central, to talk about the player’s path. Smith, in a room full of major-league veterans, did not act nervous. In the words of Astros first baseman Christian Walker, “he wasn’t trying to be a tough guy, or put up a front.”

The Rangers are hurdling towards selling at the MLB trade deadline and should consider sending out Tyler Mahle.

The elite pitching and defense that has kept Texas afloat all season let the Rangers down in Wednesday’s loss.