Rodriguez's number to be retired before Rangers host Astros
ARLINGTON, Texas -- There aren't many things the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers can both take joy in, but that won't be the case on Saturday when catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez will have his number retired by the Rangers before the game.
Rodriguez was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on July 30, and he will join Nolan Ryan's No. 34, Johnny Oates' No. 26 and Jackie Robinson's No. 42 on the left-field facade just under the second deck in Globe Life Park.
"I can't wait for (Saturday) to go out there and thank all the fans and the Rangers organization for everything they did for my family," Rodriguez told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "This has been a great moment in my life. This is a moment that everybody dreams of having."
Rodriguez, who played for both the Rangers (55-59) and Astros (71-44), will provide a moment of solidarity for the in-state rivals. But then, the Silver Boot Series must resume.
The Astros will be looking to snap their season-high four-game losing streak, while the Rangers hope to extend their winning streak to three games.
Tyson Ross (2-2, 7.52 ERA) will be activated from the 10-day disabled list, where he has been since July 24 with a blister on his right index finger, and start for Texas. Ross made a pair of rehab outings with Double-A Frisco with a 1-1 record and 2.31 ERA.
"It was productive. I was able to pitch in a couple of games in Double-A and get a good feel for some stuff," Ross told MLB.com. "I'm looking forward to getting back out there tomorrow. ... Feeling good. We've got a good training staff here and I'm ready to go."
Ross has faced the Astros once, as a member of the San Diego Padres in 2015, when he took a loss after giving up four runs in five innings.
Meanwhile, Mike Fiers (7-6, 4.06 ERA) will be in nearly the opposite situation. Instead of coming off the disabled list, he will be making his 22nd start of the year, most by any Astros starting pitcher. He also leads the team in innings pitched with 124, and is tied for the team lead in quality starts with nine.
It's a bit of an odd juxtaposition with Ross, who will be making his eighth start since Opening Day of 2016 when he was with the San Diego Padres.
Fiers has been the Astros' model of consistency in a year with a tumultuous situation regarding their starting pitching.
Ross has faced Houston once: he took the loss on April 28, 2015, while with the Padres. He gave up five hits and four runs in five innings with nine strikeouts and two walks.
Fiers has faced the Rangers four times in his career -- and once this season. He didn't factor into the decision in his May 2 start against them, when he allowed five runs on seven hits in an 8-7 Houston victory.
He is 0-1 with a 6.56 ERA against the Rangers.
