Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers Tickets

Anthony Castrovince for MLB.com ranks the Rangers-Astros rivalry at No.2 in his Fierce Foes: MLB’s top 5 rivalries for 2017. This is however not to suggest that this is a recent or budding rivalry. Called the Lone Star Series or Silver Boot Series, the Rangers-Astros rivalry is essentially an intra-division rivalry, since both teams now compete in the American League (AL) West Division. The Lone Star Series has often been dubbed as the natural rivalry since both teams are Texas based. The two teams first met on June 8, 2001, when the Astros were part of the National League (NL), while the Rangers were in the AL. It started out as an interleague rivalry, in which whoever won this six game series was awarded the Silver Boot. In case of a split series, the team with most runs was declared the winner. The Lone Star Series became an intra-division rivalry when the Astros joined the AL West Division in 2013.

The Lone Star Series Notable Moments

Like all great rivalries, the Lone Star Series is also full of exciting and memorable moments. While the rivalry began in 2001, it produced its first greatest moment in 2006. On July 1, 2006, Gary Matthews Jr., a Rangers outfielder, stole a home run from Mike Lamb. It was then considered as one of the greatest catches of the decade in the entire league. What’s a rivalry without its fair share of brawls? In April 2015, a fight started between Hank Conger and Rougned Odor. The fight would have ended, but the management of both teams jumped right into it. AJ Hinch, Astros manager, shoved Prince Fielder, as a result of which Rangers manager Jeff Bannister famously yelled at Hinch, Don’t touch my guy!

Head-to-Head Record

The following table shows the Houston Astros regular season record against the Texas Rangers.

As can be seen, the Rangers have an upper hand over the Astros in this rivalry. The Rangers even dominate the Astros when it comes to playing at Minute Maid Park.

Notable Ball Players

An interesting fact about this rivalry is that there is a long list of players who have played for both sides. For example, Nolan Ryan was with the Astros from 1980 to 1988 and then with the Rangers from 1989 to 1993. A more recent example would be of Carlos Gomez, who was with the Astros from 2015 to 2016 and then with the Rangers from 2016 to 2017. All in all, both teams boast Hall of Famers, who may or may not have helped intensify this rivalry based on the years they played for their teams. For the Astros, it is Nolan Ryan, Don Sutton, Robin Roberts, Joe Morgan, Eddie Matthews and Randy Johnson. Some of the Hall of Famers from the Rangers side include Nolan Ryan, Gaylord Perry, Ferguson Jenkins, Whitey Herzog, Goose Gossage and Bert Blyleven.

The Astros and Rangers Face Each Other

During the next MLB season, fans are likely to see some exciting games between these rivals. If you want the see the two play in-person then get Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers tickets now. If you are looking to attend a specific game, then do take a look at the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers MLB schedule. To get the most out of your money, do not forget to consult Minute Maid Park and Globe Life Field in Arlington seating charts. Cheap Houston Astros and Texas Rangers tickets are available here.