The set-up: The Houston Astros have scored 24 runs in winning the first three of this four-game home series against the Texas Rangers. The Astros are now 19-9, giving them MLB's best record, as they go for the sweep in this Thursday afternoon contest. Houston has matched the franchise's best 28-game start from 2006 and has opened 2017 at 15-4 against its American League West rivals. By losing these first three games against the Astros, the Rangers' losing streak has reached four in a row and with seven losses in their last nine, the Rangers now occupy the basement in the AL West at 11-17.

The pitching matchup:: A.J. Griffin (2-0 & 4.11 ERA) gets the nod for Texas and Joe Musgrove (1-2 & 4.88 ERA) will take the mound for Houston. Griffin is returning from a short stint on the DL due to an ankle injury and makes his first appearance since April 17th. He was outstanding in that start against Oakland, throwing six scoreless innings, allowing one hit with eight Ks and one walk. The team is a perfect 3-0 in his starts in 2017 and he's also perfect in his career against Houston. He's made seven career stars against the Astros, going 5-0 with a 4.22 ERA (Rangers are 7-0!). Musgrove pitched well in defeat in his last start, giving up just one run and five hits over 6 1/3 innings against Oakland. He's made three starts against Texas, going 1-1 with a 4.59 ERA (team is 1-2).

The pick: Griffin has that great lifetime record against Houston but the Astros are red-hot, averaging 7.75 run in their four-game winning streak and now rank second in all of MLB with a .276 BA and sit third in OPS at .785. Meanwhile, Texas batters combined to strike out 13 times on Wednesday and have fanned a whopping 41 times during the first three games of the series (ouch!). As for Houston's Musgrove, while he owns a 6.75 career on the road, here at home its just 2.58 in nine appearances (eight starts). Make Houston an 8* play.