Texas duel highlights today’s MLB.TV slate

The Rangers entered the weekend tied atop the American League West with Seattle, and emerged with a three-game lead after sweeping the Mariners. Now is not the time to get complacent, however, as the surging Astros roll into Arlington as hot as the Texas summer.

Monday’s series opener between these Lone Star rivals is just one of several storylines to keep an eye on. In Pittsburgh, a pair of players meet their former clubs in new places. Up in the Bronx, Angels starter Matt Shoemaker will test his new-and-improved arsenal against a struggling Yankees offense. And in Los Angeles, a budding starter for the Rockies should feel right at home — in more ways than one.

MLB.TV Premium returns with the same features as last year, but at $109.99, it is a full 20 bucks cheaper than the 2015 cost. This package has the best value and provides access to more than 400 devices and a free subscription to the MLB.com At Bat Premium app (a $19.99 value). It offers the best picture quality ever — a new 60 frames per second — for supported devices. Monthly signups for MLB.TV Premium are now underway as well for $24.99.

The new MLB.TV Single Team package is also now available as an $84.99 yearly subscription. You can watch a single team’s live out-of-market games in full HD.

Here is a look at what to watch for today in the Majors (all times ET):

Lone Star tussle: HOU@TEX, 8:05 p.m. The Rangers swept their in-state rival for the second time this year on May 22 in Houston, but the Astros have rattled off wins in 11 of their last 13 games since then. Houston’s top three hitters in the lineup — George Springer, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa — have hit for a combined .944 OPS in that span.

Astros manager A.J. Hinch said after Sunday’s comeback victory against Oakland — the team’s 13th come-from-behind win this season — that he feels his potent lineup is never out of a game.

“We’ve been playing good baseball,” Hinch said. “There’s nothing we can’t do on the field. We have a lot of confidence now. We don’t feel have that nervous energy when you fall behind.”

Colby Lewis (5-0, 3.09 ERA) will get the ball in the opener for Texas. The big right-hander is 10-1 in his career against the Astros, with his last loss to Houston coming all the way back on June 25, 2010.

Stat that matters: Lewis will start Monday after an extended five days of rest, something …

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