The set-up: The Rangers had a 10-game winning streak from May 9 through May 19 but that's been long forgotten. The Rangers spent their weekend by losing a three-game series to the major league-leading Astros and open the new week as losers of four straight and 10 of their last 12, leaving them 15 1/2 games behind Houston at 26-31. The New York Mets visit the Rangers for the start of a two-game interleague series on Tuesday and are just 24-31 themselves, after losing four of their last five. However, the Mets do find themselves a little closer to first place in the NL East, 11 1/2 games back of the Nationals.

The pitching matchup: Jacob deGrom (4-2 & 3.97 ERA) gets the ball for New York and will be opposed by former Met Dillon Gee (0-0 & 0.00 ERA). DeGrom was coming off excellent back-to-back outings, limiting the Pirates and Angels to one run on 10 hits in 15 1/3 innings (0.59 ERA) while striking out 19, before getting lit up by Milwaukee last Wednesday. He gave up seven runs on eight hits and five walks in four innings of that 7-1 Brewers win. DeGrom will be making his first career start against the Rangers. Gee spent his first six seasons with New York, before pitching for Kansas City last year. Gee has just recently been called up by Texas and has made two appearances out of the bullpen, totaling 6 2/3 innings. He allowed four runs on two hits (one HR) in four innings against Houston on Friday but all runs were unearned. Gee has made 124 of his 149 career appearances as a starter and gets his first start of 2017, here.

The pick: Expect deGrom to bounce back from last Wednesday's poor outing, as he's allowed three ERs or less in nine of 11 starts this year. While this is his first-ever start against Texas, deGrom does own an impressive 1.95 ERA in 11 interleague starts. As for Gee, expect hm to give his ex-teammates more than a little trouble. The Under is an 8* play.