How to watch Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros MLB game: Live stream, regional networks, team news and start time

When the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros square off Friday night at Globe Life Field, all eyes will be on two of the game’s rising stars, Wyatt Langford and Isaac Paredes, both expected to play key roles in this pivotal AL West matchup.

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Houston (22-21) has been riding a bit of a roller coaster lately. After stumbling through back-to-back series losses to the White Sox and Brewers, the Astros bounced back with strong performances against the Reds and Royals. However, their momentum hit a speed bump Thursday, dropping the opener of the series against Texas in a narrow 1-0 loss.

Texas (24-21), meanwhile, is riding a hot streak at just the right time. Thursday’s win over Houston marked their sixth consecutive victory — their longest winning run of the season. The surge began with a win over Detroit, followed by a dominant sweep of Colorado. Thursday’s shutout victory over the Astros served as another statement performance, with Jacob deGrom dazzling on the mound. The veteran right-hander went eight strong innings, scattering five hits while striking out seven and issuing just one walk.

Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros MLB game, plus plenty more.

How to watch Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros MLB game on TV & stream live online

• Local TV Channel: SCHN, Victory+

• Streaming service: Fubo, Apple TV+

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To watch the entire MLB season, Fubo and DirecTV Stream are the two best streaming services for baseball fans. Both carry MLB.tv for out-of-market access to games and you can also check out our table below for information on regional sports networks and where to find them.

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Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros: Date and First-Pitch time

The Texas Rangers will take on the Houston Astros in an electrifying MLB game on Friday, April 16, 2025, at 8:05 pm ET/5:05 pm PT at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

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Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros team news, injury reports & key players

Texas Rangers team news

They'll hand the ball to Lance McCullers, who's hoping to finally settle in after missing the last two seasons due to injury. His return hasn't been smooth—he’s surrendered seven earned runs across just four innings of work. The Astros need him to rediscover the form he showed back in 2022 if they’re to stay in the race.

At the plate, the Astros have been inconsistent, managing just 4.14 runs per outing. The offense has leaned heavily on Jeremy Peña and Isaac Paredes, who've combined for 12 homers and a bulk of the team’s total bases. But beyond those two, the order has lacked depth—only four Houston hitters boast an OPS+ above league average. The lineup's imbalance has made it easier for opposing pitchers to navigate the weaker spots.

Houston Astros team news

On the other side, Texas has been carried by its starting rotation, and Nathan Eovaldi continues to be the anchor. The veteran right-hander has been in command all season, allowing only 13 earned runs through 55.2 innings while racking up 60 strikeouts. With a stingy 2.4% walk rate, .243 expected batting average against, and a 3.22 xERA, Eovaldi has kept hitters guessing and runs off the board.

The Rangers’ bats, however, haven’t quite kept pace. They’re averaging just 3.50 runs per game, with the offense largely driven by Corey Seager (.300/.346/.520, 6 HR) and Josh Smith (.314/.390/.463, 4 HR). Like Houston, Texas has a top-heavy lineup—only five players have an OPS+ over 100, and opponents have found ways to neutralize them by working around the few hot bats.

Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros head-to-head record