View source for Lone Star Series

{{short description|Major League Baseball rivalry}}
{{distinguish|Lone Star (TV series)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox sports rivalry
| name = Lone Star Series
| team1 = Houston Astros
| team2 = Texas Rangers
| team1logo = Houston Astros cap logo.svg
| team2logo = Texas Rangers Insignia.svg
| city or region = [[Texas]]
| firstmeeting = June 8, 2001<ref name="head2head">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/head2head-games.cgi?team1=HOU&team2=TEX&from=2001&to=2025|title=Head-to-Head Records|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=May 19, 2025}}</ref><br>[[Choctaw Stadium|The Ballpark in Arlington]], [[Arlington, Texas|Arlington]]<br>Astros 5, Rangers 4
| mostrecent = May 18, 2025 <ref name="head2head"/><br>Astros 4, Rangers 3<br>[[Globe Life Field]], [[Arlington, Texas|Arlington]]
| nextmeeting = July 11, 2025 <br>[[Daikin Park]], [[Houston]]<!--[[Globe Life Field]], [[Arlington, Texas|Arlington]]-->
| stadiums = Astros: [[Daikin Park]]<br>Rangers: [[Globe Life Field]]
| total = {{sum|146|144|record=y}}<ref name="m3">{{Cite web |title=mcubed.net : MLB : Series records : Houston Astros against Texas Rangers |url=https://mcubed.net/mlb/hou/tex.shtml |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=mcubed.net}}</ref>
| series = Rangers, {{winpct|146|144|record=y}}<ref name="m3"/>
| regularseason = Rangers, {{winpct|142|141|record=y}}<ref name="head2head"/>
| postseason = Rangers, {{winpct|4|3|record=y}}<ref name="m3"/>
| largestvictory = {{Plainlist|
*Astros, 15–1 <small>(September 13, [[2021 Houston Astros season|2021]])</small><ref>{{Cite web |title=Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers Box Score: September 13, 2021 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TEX/TEX202109130.shtml |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
*Rangers, 18–3 <small>(July 4, 2004;</small><ref>{{Cite web |title=Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros Box Score: July 4, 2004 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU200407040.shtml |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><small> May 21, 2005)</small><ref>{{Cite web |title=Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers Box Score: May 21, 2005 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TEX/TEX200505210.shtml |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
}}
| longeststreak = {{Plainlist|
*Astros, 8 <small>(May 12–July 4, [[2018 Houston Astros season|2018]])</small><ref name="head2head"/>
*Rangers, 10 <small>(July 7, [[2013 Texas Rangers season|2013]]–April 11, [[2014 Texas Rangers season|2014]])</small><ref name="head2head"/>
}}
| currentstreak = Astros, 1 <ref name="head2head"/>
| section_header = Post-season history
| section_info = {{Plainlist|class=nowrap|
*'''[[2023 American League Championship Series|2023 AL Championship Series]]''': Rangers won, 4–3
}}
}}
{{OSM Location map
| coord = {{coord|31.252|-96.220}}
| zoom = 6
| width = 250
| height = 300
| caption = Locations of the [[Houston Astros]] and [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]]
| mark1 = Orange pog.svg
| label1 = Astros
| mark-coord1 = {{coord|29.75709|-95.35543}} 
| label-pos1 = top
| label-color1 = black
| mark2 = Blue pog.svg
| label2 = Rangers
| mark-coord2 = {{coord|32.74758|-97.08374}}
| label-pos2 = top
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}}
The '''Lone Star Series''' (also known as the '''Silver Boot Series''') is a [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) [[Major League Baseball rivalries|rivalry]] featuring Texas' two major league franchises, the [[Houston Astros]] and [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]]. It is an outgrowth of the "natural rivalry" established by MLB as part of [[interleague play]] as the Rangers are a member of the [[American League]] (AL) and the Astros were a member of the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] (NL) until {{mlby|2012}}. During interleague play, the winner of the six-game series was awarded the Silver Boot, a {{convert|30|in|mm|adj=on}} tall display of a size 15 [[cowboy boot]] cast in silver, complete with a custom, handmade [[spur]]. If each team had won three games each for a tie, the declared winner was the team that scored the most [[run (baseball)|runs]] over the course of the series. In {{mlby|2013}}, the Astros joined the [[American League West]] with the Rangers and changed their rivalry from an interleague to an intradivision contest. The rivalry, which was once dormant, has become far more heated in recent seasons. From 2013 to 2022 (excluding the shortened 2020 season), 19 games were played each season. Beginning in 2023, the teams play each other 13 times a year.

==Background==
The [[Greater Houston]] and [[Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex]] (DFW) areas have been rivals in sports and other areas for many years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/texass-cities-one-big-dysfunctional-family/|title=Texas's Cities: One Big, Dysfunctional Family|date=2015-08-31|website=Texas Monthly|language=en|access-date=2019-10-10}}</ref> Differences, not related to baseball, include the weather during the summer, population, cultural, and allegiance preferences between the different regions of [[List of geographical regions in Texas|Texas]]. Both Greater Houston and DFW have humid subtropical climates; however, DFW mostly has dry winds in the summer and sometimes icy conditions in the winter, with some frost at night, compared to Greater Houston's severe relative humidity and minimal wind, except near the coast, and milder winter conditions. The Metroplex is located inland in [[North Texas]] while Houston is in the face of the [[Gulf of Mexico]] in [[Southeast Texas]]. The [[Dallas, Texas|city of Dallas]] has the ninth [[List of United States cities by population|largest population in the United States]] and third [[Population of Texas cities in 2000|largest population in Texas]]; the city of Houston has the fourth largest population in the United States and largest population in Texas. DFW is the fourth largest metropolitan area in the [[Table of United States Metropolitan Statistical Areas|United States]], while the Greater Houston area is the fifth largest.

==History==
{{see also|History of baseball in Texas}}

The Lone Star Series was the consequence of many things that happened to Texas in the 1950s: population shift westward from metropolitan areas on the East Coast, the [[NASA|space program]], [[Texas#Modern era|more modernized higher education]], and the formation of the brief [[Continental League]] resulting in expansion in [[Major League Baseball]] shortly thereafter.

===1962: Texas has its first major league team, the Colt .45s===
The first serious proposal to bring big league baseball to Texas came in the late 1950s with the planned [[Continental League]], in which charter franchises were granted for both Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston. Ultimately, the Continental League never played a game, but only because the established leagues responded by granting two [[expansion team|expansion franchises]] each. One of the new teams was the [[Astros#Major League Baseball comes to Texas|Houston Colt .45's]], who joined the National League in 1962.

The Colt .45's played in [[Colt Stadium]] for the first three years of existence, fighting against hot and humid weather and outrageously large mosquitoes, which also had an effect on the fans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ballparkwatch.com/stadiums/past/colt_stadium.htm |title=Colt Stadium / Houston Colt .45s / 1962–1964 |publisher=Ballparkwatch |access-date=October 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081113012925/http://www.ballparkwatch.com/stadiums/past/colt_stadium.htm |archive-date=November 13, 2008 }}</ref> Unbelievably, they did not play a Sunday night baseball game at home until June 9, 1963, which was also the major leagues' first Sunday night game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballlibrary.com/chronology/byyear.php?year=1963#June |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106021930/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/chronology/byyear.php?year=1963#June |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 6, 2007 |title=The Chronology – 1963 |publisher=BaseballLibrary.com |access-date=October 18, 2011}}</ref> The Astros, as they came to be with the new all-weathered [[Harris County Domed Stadium]], really did not have a strong rivalry with any team in the NL, except for the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] and later on the [[Cincinnati Reds]] and [[Atlanta Braves]].

During the planning of the second wave of expansion in the big leagues in 1968, the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] considered putting a new team in the [[Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex|Dallas–Fort Worth area]] by an overwhelming majority of its owners. However, Judge [[Roy Hofheinz]] did not want it to happen or allow it because he owned all the television and radio rights in Texas for Astros ballgames. The other owners were in favor, except Hofheinz, of having a rivalry approaching the intensity of the [[Dodgers–Giants rivalry]] in the Senior Circuit. San Diego and Montreal were selected instead.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-8331907_ITM | work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram | title=Rangers, Astros to meet at last | first=T.R. | last=Sullivan | date=June 3, 2001}}</ref> The Dallas–Fort Worth area had to wait four more years for a team to arrive when the Senators (see below) moved to [[Arlington, Texas]]. It would be another 32 years before there was a meeting between the Rangers and Astros.

===1972: Washington Senators move to Arlington to become the Rangers===
Having been turned down by the National League, Dallas-Fort Worth naturally turned to the American League. At the time, the two major leagues were highly autonomous business entities, and as such Judge Hofheinz was unable to block the eventual arrival of the Junior Circuit in North Texas. Before they were the Texas Rangers, the team belonged to the [[Beltway]] as the third version of the [[Washington Senators (1961–71)|Washington Senators]] where they played mediocre baseball most of the time for the first 11 years of existence. They replaced the old [[Washington Senators (1901–60)|Washington Senators]] who had moved to the [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul]] area to become the [[Minnesota Twins]] in 1961. The new Senators changed into the Texas Rangers in time for the 1972 season, and so a rivalry was born. (At one time, the [[History of the Oakland Athletics#Finley looks for a way out|Kansas City Athletics]] were interested in moving to the Dallas/Fort Worth area in the early 1960s but were voted down, 9–1, by the other American League owners.)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/K/Kansas_City_Athletics.stm |title=Kansas City Athletics |publisher=BaseballLibrary.com |access-date=October 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629100629/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/K/Kansas_City_Athletics.stm |archive-date=June 29, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/al/kcityas/kca_s.html |title=Kansas City Athletics (1955–1967) |work=Sports Ecyclopedia |publisher=Sportsecyclopedia.com |access-date=October 18, 2011}}</ref> The Astros have been in Texas ten years longer than the Rangers, but the Senators/Rangers franchise is one year older than the Astros. They met, starting in 1992, at the end of [[spring training]] with the Rangers winning 2–0 and claiming the very first Silver Boot. On April 2, 1993, [[Nolan Ryan]] returned to the [[Astrodome]] as a member of the Texas Rangers in front of 53,657, the biggest crowd to see a big league game in Texas up to that point.<ref>{{cite web |title=The biggest moment in Texas baseball history is here |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-rangers-alcs-texas-baseball-history |website=MLB.com |language=en |date=October 14, 2023}}</ref> The Rangers won the last two exhibition games, a 6–5 victory in Arlington in 1999 and a 9–3 victory at Houston in 2000, before the two teams met for the first time in regular season in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|author=T.R. Sullivan |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080516&content_id=2712533&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |title=The Official Site of Major League Baseball: News: As series evolved, so did Silver Boot |publisher=Mlb.mlb.com |date=May 16, 2008 |access-date=October 18, 2011}}</ref>

===1996–2012: First official meetings and interleague play===
{{MLBBioRet
|Image = AstrosRet 34.PNG
|Name = Nolan Ryan
|Number = 34
|Team = Houston Astros
|Year = 1996
|}}
{{MLBBioRet
|Image = NolanRyanRangers.png
|Name = Nolan Ryan
|Number = 34
|Team = Texas Rangers (baseball)
|Display= Texas Rangers
|Year = 1996
|}}
One year before their first official matchup in interleague play, both teams retired the number of Hall of Famer [[Nolan Ryan]], who had successful runs with both teams. During the 1997 off-season, "radical" realignment plans were bandied around about possibly rearranging teams from one league to another, especially Houston and Texas. In order to cut down on traveling costs and align teams together based on geography, the MLB owners came up with many plans to put the Astros and Rangers in a more suitable placement together. However, the [[American League]] and [[National League (baseball)|National League]] would lose their respective identities in the process.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://baseballforthought.blogspot.com/2006/05/proposal-for-mlb-realignment.html |title=Baseball For Thought: A Proposal for MLB Realignment |publisher=Baseballforthought.blogspot.com |date=May 11, 2006 |access-date=October 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>[http://www.armchairgm.com/CPCP's_MLB_Realignment CPCP's MLB Realignment – ArmchairGM – Sports Wiki Database] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080323170504/http://www.armchairgm.com/CPCP%27s_MLB_Realignment |date=March 23, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.andromedan.com/linda/realign.htm |title=Baseball diary, radical realignment, fans against realignment, major league baseball team addresses, NO radical realignment, Bud Selig, Plan A, realignment options |publisher=Andromedan.com |access-date=October 18, 2011}}</ref> (The only move was the Brewers from the AL Central to the [[NL Central]].) One of the plans in 2000 even featured the Texas Rangers in a six-team [[AL Central]], so that they would be with other teams in the [[Central Standard Time (North America)|Central Time Zone]], while the fledgling [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] would have had to leave the [[NL West]] for the [[AL West]] to replace the Rangers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/comment/sgcol04.htm|title=A wealth of realignment possibilities|last=Gardner|first=Steve|date=May 22, 2000|work=USA Today|access-date=May 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000915153331/http://usatoday.com/sports/baseball/comment/sgcol04.htm|archive-date=September 15, 2000|url-status=dead}}</ref> During the 2005–06 off-season, the [[Miami Marlins|Florida Marlins]] were considering moving to [[San Antonio]], among other cities, due to the lack of funding for a new stadium. Another professional baseball team in Texas, whether by relocation or expansion, in either league would create greater rivalries, similar to the kind in the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] with the [[San Antonio Spurs|Spurs]], [[Dallas Mavericks|Mavericks]], and [[Houston Rockets|Rockets]], and possible realignment issues.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pinto |first=David |url=http://www.baseballmusings.com/archives/013259.php |title=Deep in the Heart of Texas |publisher=Baseball Musings |date=March 3, 2006 |access-date=October 18, 2011}}</ref>

The Lone Star Series was not conceived until {{Baseball year|2001}}, four years after [[Interleague Play|interleague play]] began. It was only logical to have the Rangers and Astros matched together since they are the only MLB teams representing Texas. Since both played in two different divisions ([[AL West]] and [[NL Central]], respectively), Major League Baseball had to rectify the oversight even though interleague play would not be rotated from division to division on a yearly basis until 2002.

There has only been one rainout in the history of the Lone Star Series. A game scheduled for Sunday June 30, 2002, at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington was postponed due to rain and rescheduled for Monday, September 2. The Rangers won the last game of the year against the Astros, 7–2, in front of a crowd of 24,468, but the Astros won the Silver Boot regardless of the outcome of the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=220902113 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522151724/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=220902113 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 22, 2022 |title=Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers – Recap – September 02, 2002 |work=ESPN |date=September 2, 2002 |access-date=October 18, 2011}}</ref>

On July 1, {{mlby|2006}}, Rangers outfielder [[Gary Matthews Jr.]] stole a home run from Astro [[Mike Lamb]] (a former Ranger) in what was considered one of the greatest catches of the decade according to [[MLB Network]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=260701113 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522141253/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=260701113 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 22, 2022 |title=ESPN – Astros vs. Rangers – Recap – July 01, 2006 |work=ESPN |date=July 1, 2006 |access-date=October 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/rangers/2006-07-12-matthews-jr-focus_x.htm | work=USA Today | title=Matthews Jr. a late bloomer | first=Jorge L. | last=Ortiz | date=July 13, 2006 | access-date=May 11, 2010}}</ref> At that time according to Lamb and [[Mark Teixeira]], the Rangers-Astros "rivalry" was more for the fans in Texas than like a bitter rivalry (e.g. [[White Sox–Cubs rivalry|Windy City Series]]).<ref>{{cite web|author=Alyson Footer |url=http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070517&content_id=1971221&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716090252/http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070517&content_id=1971221&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |title=The Official Site of The Houston Astros: News: Lone Star Series kicks off in Houston |publisher=Houston.astros.mlb.com |date=May 18, 2007 |access-date=October 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Todd Wills |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080516&content_id=2712765&vkey=news_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex&partnered=rss_tex |title=Ryan holds court on Lone Star Series &#124; texasrangers.com: News |publisher=Mlb.mlb.com |date=May 16, 2008 |access-date=October 18, 2011}}</ref>

Beginning in 2008, the Lone Star Series saw for the first time two African-American managers go head-to-head against one another, the Astros' [[Cecil Cooper]] and the Rangers' [[Ron Washington]]. This situation lasted for two years. On February 6, 2008, [[Nolan Ryan]] became the Rangers' team president after being the special assistant to general manager, scouting players, and holding pitching camps with the Astros for the previous three seasons.<ref>[http://cbs11tv.com/sports/Nolan.Ryan.Rangers.2.647336.html cbs11tv.com – Nolan Ryan Named Rangers Team President] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210144105/http://cbs11tv.com/sports/Nolan.Ryan.Rangers.2.647336.html |date=February 10, 2009 }}</ref>

On August 18, 2009, the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Rangers]] acquired [[Iván Rodríguez]] in a trade from the [[Houston Astros]] to help them down the stretch for the purpose of achieving their first playoff appearance in ten years. It was Rodriguez's second stint with Texas.<ref>{{cite web|author=T.R. Sullivan |url=http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090818&content_id=6482172&vkey=news_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090820051714/http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090818&content_id=6482172&vkey=news_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 20, 2009 |title=Pudge rejoins Rangers for chance to win |publisher=Texas.rangers.mlb.com |access-date=October 18, 2011}}</ref> The team had a winning season but did not qualify for the postseason.

On September 14, 2010, the Astros' Triple-A affiliate, the [[Round Rock Express]], announced that they would become the Rangers' new minor league affiliate. This change left the Astros without a Triple-A team and the Rangers' old Triple-A team, the [[Oklahoma City RedHawks]], without a parent club. On September 20, 2010, the Astros made the RedHawks their own affiliate. These changes went into effect for the 2011 season.

===2013–present: Astros join the American League===
[[File:Lone Star Series, Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington, 2013.jpg|thumb|The Rangers host the Astros at Globe Life Park in Arlington during the 2013 edition of the Lone Star Series]]
Major League Baseball approved the sale of the Astros on November 11, {{mlby|2011}}, to [[Jim Crane]] on the condition they join the [[American League West]]. The Rangers, located in the Central Time Zone, had many of their games start late in the [[Pacific Time Zone]] due to the Angels, Athletics, and Mariners all being located on the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]]. To help ease the Rangers' schedule, Commissioner [[Bud Selig]] required that the Astros join the AL West in {{mlby|2013}}, so both teams would have another division rival in relatively close geographical proximity to one another while ensuring that both the AL West and the [[National League Central]] both would have the same number of teams as the other divisions. The move's consequence for the rest of the league resulted in all teams having to play interleague games year round due to the odd number of teams in each league. Another consequence would be an increase in intensity of the Lone Star baseball rivalry.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/24/sports/baseball/astros-american-league.html How the Astros Became an American League Team], [[New York Times]], October 24, 2017</ref>

The Astros and Rangers played each other on [[Opening Day]] on March 31, 2013, with the Astros winning convincingly at home. The next game, Rangers pitcher [[Yu Darvish]] was one out away from a [[Perfect game (baseball)|perfect game]] when [[Marwin González]] hit a single through Darvish's legs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=330402118|title = Yu Darvish loses perfect game with 2 outs in ninth inning}}</ref>

On February 11, 2014, Nolan Ryan returned to the Astros as an executive advisor to his son, [[Reid Ryan|Reid]], the president of business operations; general manager Jeff Luhnow; and owner Jim Crane.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2014/02/11/nolan-ryan-to-return-to-astros-as-special-assistant-to-jim-crane/|title=Nolan Ryan to return to Astros as special assistant to Jim Crane|author=Jose de Jesus Ortiz |date=2014-02-11|website=Ultimate Astros|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-10}}</ref> Nolan Ryan is also the only person to be named DHL Hometown Hero by two organizations (the Rangers and the Astros).<ref>{{cite web|author=Kevin Yanik |url=http://twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061001&content_id=1694317&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou |title=The Official Site of The Houston Astros: News: Ryan elected Astros' Hometown Hero |publisher=Twins.mlb.com |date=September 26, 1981 |access-date=October 18, 2011}}{{dead link|date=October 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=T.R. Sullivan |url=http://www.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060927&content_id=1686153&vkey=news_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex |title=The Official Site of The Texas Rangers: News: Ryan named Rangers Hometown Hero |work=Mlb.com |access-date=October 18, 2011}}</ref>

In April 2015, a brawl started between [[Rougned Odor]] and [[Hank Conger]], which started when Odor, staring down the pitcher out of the batter's box, exchanged words with Conger when the catcher told him to get back. While the umpire quickly got in the middle of the two advancing toward each other, both teams soon swarmed close to each other, which included [[Prince Fielder]] (the batter scheduled to hit after Odor), who pushed Conger aside while having his bat with him. Astros manager [[A. J. Hinch]] grabbed [[Prince Fielder]], while Fielder shoved back. This was followed by Rangers manager [[Jeff Banister|Jeff Bannister]] getting nose to nose with Hinch; shouting and pointing aside, no punches were thrown and no ejections were issued.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://climbingtalshill.com/2015/07/19/astros-and-rangers-benches-clear-in-near-brawl/ | title=Astros and Rangers: Benches Clear in Near Brawl | date=19 July 2015 }}</ref> Later in September, with both teams in contention for the playoffs, the Astros and Rangers faced each other in a pivotal series, with Texas sweeping all four games. The Rangers, who entered the series 1.5 games behind Houston for the AL West lead, ended the series leading the Astros by 2.5 games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas/texas-rangers/post/_/id/4916423/nothing-fluky-about-rangers-destruction-of-astros|title = Nothing fluky about Texas Rangers' destruction of Houston Astros|date = September 18, 2015}}</ref> The Rangers clinched the 2015 AL West Division title, while the Astros entered the 2015 playoffs as a Wild Card team. The Rangers marked the AL West division title by taunting the Astros with a parody of the Astros' "Come And Take It!" campaign by proclaiming "We Came And Took It!" during a game at Globe Life Park; the two teams would have met in the ALCS had they each won their respective ALDS but both lost in Game 5.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/the-rangers-are-kind-of-sore-winners/|title=The Rangers Are Kind of Sore Winners|date=2015-10-06|work=Texas Monthly|access-date=2017-11-13|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2017, the rivalry between the Astros and Rangers continued to heat up. During a radio interview Rangers manager Jeff Bannister was quoted as saying, "All I know is they get to put Houston on their chest. We get to put Texas on ours." Astros pitcher [[Lance McCullers Jr.]] fired back on Twitter stating, “It’s because nobody knows what Arlington is."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/news/astros-mccullers-trolls-arlington-after-banisters-comments-on-rivalry/|title=Astros' McCullers Trolls Arlington After Banister's Comments On Rivalry|date=2017-06-14|access-date=2017-11-13|language=en}}</ref> Later in the 2017 season after [[Hurricane Harvey]] hit Houston, controversy arose when the Astros and Rangers could not negotiate swapping series forcing the Astros to play a series of home games against the Rangers at the Tampa Bay Rays' stadium ([[Tropicana Field]]) in Florida.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/newswires/sports/mccullers-slams-rangers-refusing-swap-series-article-1.3453642|title=McCullers slams Rangers for refusing to swap series|date=2017-06-14|access-date=2017-11-13|language=en}}</ref> The Rangers won the series 2–1 but lost the season series 7–12. The Astros swept the Rangers in the final three games of the series and outscored the Rangers 42–8 in the final four games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mcubed.net/mlb/tex/hou.shtml|title=mcubed.net : MLB : Series records : Texas Rangers against Houston Astros|website=www.mcubed.net|access-date=2017-11-28}}</ref> The Rangers did not make the 2017 playoffs, and the Astros clinched their first World Series championship, the first World Series Championship in the Astros-Rangers rivalry and the first World Series title for the State of Texas.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stevenson |first=Stefan |title=Houston Astros bring first World Series title to Texas |language=en |work=star-telegram |url=http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/mlb/article182225486.html |access-date=2017-11-13}}</ref>

When the Astros played the Opening Day game in 2018 as defending World Series champions, they did so in Arlington, which they won 4–1. Houston was victorious in both the 2018 and 2019 Silver Boot Series as they won the AL West both seasons, making three consecutive division titles for the club with 100 wins in each season. Meanwhile, Texas continued to rebuild and had losing seasons for the second and third year in a row.

The [[2022 Houston Astros season|Astros]] made history at the expense of the [[2022 Texas Rangers season|Rangers]] on June 15, [[2022 Major League Baseball season|2022]], when [[Luis García (pitcher, born 1996)|Luis Garcia]] and [[Phil Maton]] each pitched an [[List of Major League Baseball pitchers who have thrown an immaculate inning|immaculate inning]] for the Astros at Globe Life Field. It was the first instance in major league history of two immaculate innings being thrown on the same date and in the same game. Garcia threw his in the second inning and Maton in the seventh, and they both struck out the same trio of hitters—[[Nathaniel Lowe]], [[Ezequiel Durán]], and [[Brad Miller (baseball)|Brad Miller]].<ref>{{cite web|agency=ESPN News Service |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34097896/houston-astros-luis-garcia-phil-maton-first-recorded-history-throw-immaculate-innings-one-game |title=Houston Astros' Luis García, Phil Maton first in recorded history to throw immaculate innings in one game |magazine=[[ESPN.com]] |date=June 15, 2022 |access-date=April 16, 2023}}</ref> The Astro relied on excellent pitching throughout the year to win 106 regular-season games on their way to claiming a second [[2022 World Series|World Series]] championship, defeating the [[2022 Philadelphia Phillies season|Philadelphia Phillies]] in six games.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rome |first=Chandler |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/astros/article/No-doubt-about-it-Astros-topple-Phillies-to-win-17561906.php#photo-23131272 |title=Undisputed: 'It proves we're the best team in baseball ... They have nothing to say now.' |work=[[Houston Chronicle]] |date=November 5, 2022 |access-date=April 16, 2022}}</ref>

Prior to the [[2023 Major League Baseball season|2023 season]], the [[2023 Texas Rangers season|Rangers]] hired [[Bruce Bochy]] as [[List of Texas Rangers managers|manager]]; meanwhile, [[Dusty Baker]] served as [[List of Houston Astros managers|manager]] of the Astros. Both men had previously led the [[List of San Francisco Giants managers|San Francisco Giants]], including when Bochy led the [[2010 San Francisco Giants season|Giants]] to their [[2010 World Series]] defeat of the [[2010 Texas Rangers season|Rangers]], his first championship. In their long and distinguished managerial careers, Baker and Bochy also concurrently guided other teams as rivals in the National League since the 1990s, accumulating over [[List of Major League Baseball managers with most career wins|2,000 wins each]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Lerner |first=Danielle |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/astros/article/dusty-baker-bruce-bochy-astros-rangers-rivalry-17898119.php#photo-23682063 |title=Dusty Baker and Bruce Bochy meet again as AL West rivals |work=Houston Chronicle |date=April 14, 2023 |access-date=April 16, 2023}}</ref> The two teams later became the beneficiary of the [[2023 New York Mets season|New York Mets]]' [[fire sale]], with the Mets trading [[Justin Verlander]] back to the Astros, and [[Max Scherzer]] to the Rangers.<ref>{{cite web |last=Schlossberg |first=Dan |title=Mets Wave White Flag, Trade Max Scherzer And Justin Verlander In Separate Deals On Deadline Day |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danschlossberg/2023/08/01/mets-wave-white-flag-trade-max-scherzer-and-justin-verlander-in-separate-deals-on-deadline-day/?sh=6a922a40177a |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> The two had a critical 3-game series in Arlington looming on September 4–6<ref>{{Cite news |last=Young |first=Matt |date=2023-07-28 |title=Remaining schedules for Astros, Rangers: Who has easier path to division title? |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/astros/article/astros-rangers-remaining-schedule-easier-division-18266084.php |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=Houston Chronicle |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=Evan |date=2023-09-20 |title=Rangers, Astros, Mariners in heated AL West race: How do MLB division tiebreakers work? |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/rangers/2023/09/04/rangers-astros-mariners-in-heated-al-west-race-how-do-mlb-division-tiebreakers-work/ |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=Dallas News |language=en}}</ref> that saw the Texas Rangers needing to sweep to clinch the season series and a potential tiebreaker as the division race was close, and ESPN described it as "what could be the biggest series in Texas baseball history."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-04 |title=Astros-Rangers is the biggest Lone Star State showdown ever |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38298039/mlb-houston-astros-texas-rangers-biggest-lone-star-state-series |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> The Astros retained the silver boot by proceeding to demolish the Rangers in the series, scoring six runs in the seventh inning of a 13-6 opening win<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-04 |title=Rangers blow another three-run lead, drop first game of crucial series vs. AL West rival Astros |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/rangers-blow-another-three-run-lead-drop-first-game-of-crucial-series-vs-al-west-rival-astros/ |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}</ref> before crushing Texas in the latter two games with five home runs hit in each game, the first time that a team had won the Lone Star Series seven seasons in a row since Texas did so from 2007 to 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-07 |title=Astros slug their way to the top of the AL West with 16 homers in 3 games to sweep Rangers |url=https://apnews.com/article/astros-homers-sweep-rangers-al-west-lead-a33944f4b981f91e3e32b391a9a6e820 |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> Both teams reached the postseason together for the first time since [[2015 Major League Baseball season|2015]]. However, the roles were reversed, this time the Astros won the AL West and a first-round bye as the second seed<ref>{{cite web |last=McTaggart |first=Brian |date=October 1, 2023 |title=Astros seize AL West title with a win in Game 162 |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-clinch-2023-al-west-title |access-date=October 1, 2023 |website=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Snyder |first=Matt |date=October 1, 2023 |title=Astros clinch AL West: Houston wins division title for the sixth time in seven years, pass Rangers on last day |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/astros-clinch-al-west-houston-wins-division-title-for-sixth-time-in-seven-years-pass-rangers-on-last-day/ |access-date=October 2, 2023 |work=CBS Sport}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=McCord |first=Cory |date=October 1, 2023 |title=AL West champs! Astros win the division on the final day of the regular season |url=https://www.khou.com/article/sports/mlb/astros/astros-playoff-update/285-66a96831-6692-4bef-aa65-1740274965db |access-date=October 2, 2023 |work=KHOU}}</ref> while the Rangers entered as a Wild Card team<ref>{{Cite web |last=Landry |first=Kennedi |title=Rangers head to postseason as 2nd AL Wild Card team |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/rangers-lose-final-game-of-2023 |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=MLB.com}}</ref> by winning the season series 9–4, with both advancing to the [[2023 American League Championship Series|ALCS]] to set up the first ever postseason meeting between the teams, and the first LCS to be held entirely in one state.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-12 |title=Astros and Rangers headed to ALCS, first-ever postseason series |url=https://www.kxan.com/sports/astros-and-rangers-headed-to-alcs-first-ever-postseason-series/ |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=KXAN Austin |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Astros-Rangers latest intrastate rivals to face off in postseason |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/playoff-series-between-mlb-teams-in-same-state |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> On October 23, the Texas Rangers won the ALCS in Game 7 with a final score of 11–4, which notably saw each team lose every home game.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Adolis Garcia, Rangers crush Astros in ALCS Game 7 to reach World Series since 2011 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/playoffs/2023/10/23/astros-vs-rangers-live-time-tv-channel-pitchers-for-alcs-game-7/71294130007/ |access-date=2023-10-24 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref> In addition, the mayors of Houston and Arlington made a friendly wager that whichever mayor’s team lost the series would have to wear a jersey from the winning team to a city council meeting.<ref>{{cite web|title=Astros and Rangers meet for Texas-sized showdown in AL Championship Series|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/astros-and-rangers-meet-for-texas-sized-showdown-in-al-championship-series|work=NBC Sports|date=October 14, 2023|access-date=October 16, 2023}}</ref> After the Astros lost the series, Houston mayor [[Sylvester Turner]] honored the wager and indeed wore a Rangers jersey to a city council meeting.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1717654187763245216 |user=houmayor |title=Alright, alright... A deal's a deal! 😅 Even though our @astros didn't clinch the win this time, I'm honoring our friendly wager. But always remember, deep down, I'm H-Town through and through. |author=[[Sylvester Turner]] |date=October 26, 2023}}</ref>

==Lone Star Series results==
{{Game log start|style={{Baseball primary style|}};|title= Astros vs. Rangers Season-by-Season Results}}
{{Game log section start|hide=y|style={{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};|title=2000s (Rangers, 28–26)|Season|colspan2=2|Season series|at [[Houston Astros]] |at [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] |Overall series|Notes}}
|-
| {{mlby|2001}}
| '''Tie'''
| '''3{{nbnd}}3'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros, 2{{nbnd}}1
| Tie<br>3{{nbnd}}3
| Teams' first meetings as interleague rivals. Rangers win tiebreaker by outscoring Astros 44–28
|-
| {{mlby|2002}}
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | '''Astros'''
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | '''4{{nbnd}}2'''
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros<br>7{{nbnd}}5
|
|-
| {{mlby|2003}}
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | '''Astros'''
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | '''4{{nbnd}}2'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros, 3{{nbnd}}0
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros<br>11{{nbnd}}7
|
|-
| {{mlby|2004}}
| '''Tie'''
| '''3{{nbnd}}3'''
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros<br>14{{nbnd}}10
| Rangers win tiebreaker by outscoring Astros 42–29
|-
| {{mlby|2005}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''Rangers'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''4{{nbnd}}2'''
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 3{{nbnd}}0
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros<br>16{{nbnd}}14
| Astros lose [[2005 World Series]].
|-
| {{mlby|2006}}
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | '''Astros'''
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | '''4{{nbnd}}2'''
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros<br>20{{nbnd}}16
|
|-
| {{mlby|2007}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''Rangers'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''4{{nbnd}}2'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros<br>22{{nbnd}}20
|
|-
| {{mlby|2008}}
| '''Tie'''
| '''3{{nbnd}}3'''
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros<br>25{{nbnd}}23
| Rangers win tiebreaker by outscoring Astros 34{{nbnd}}28
|-
| {{mlby|2009}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''Rangers'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''5{{nbnd}}1'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 3{{nbnd}}0
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers<br>28{{nbnd}}26
| Rangers take a 26–25 lead on May 24 in the series.
{{Game log section end}}
{{Game log section start|hide=y|style={{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};|title=2010s (Rangers, 87–64) |Season|colspan2=2|Season series|at [[Houston Astros]] |at [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] |Overall series|Notes}}
|-
| {{mlby|2010}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''Rangers'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''5{{nbnd}}1'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 3{{nbnd}}0
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers<br>33{{nbnd}}27
| Rangers lose [[2010 World Series]].
|-
| {{mlby|2011}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''Rangers'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''4{{nbnd}}2'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers<br>37{{nbnd}}29
| Rangers win eight straight meetings in Houston from 2009 to 2011.<br>Rangers lose [[2011 World Series]].
|-
| {{mlby|2012}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''Rangers'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''5{{nbnd}}1'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 2{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 3{{nbnd}}0
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers<br>42{{nbnd}}30
|
|-
| {{mlby|2013}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''Rangers'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''17{{nbnd}}2'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 9{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 8{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers<br>59{{nbnd}}32
| Astros move from NL Central to AL West, resulting in this becoming an intra-division rivalry, with the teams meeting 19 times per season. 
|-
| {{mlby|2014}}
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | '''Astros'''
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | '''11{{nbnd}}8'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 5{{nbnd}}4
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros, 7{{nbnd}}3
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers<br>67{{nbnd}}43
| Rangers win 12 straight meetings (July 2013 – April 2014) and 10 straight meetings in Houston (April 2013 – May 2014).
|-
| {{mlby|2015}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''Rangers'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''13{{nbnd}}6'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 5{{nbnd}}4
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 8{{nbnd}}2
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers<br>80{{nbnd}}49
|
|-
| {{mlby|2016}}
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''Rangers'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''15{{nbnd}}4'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 7{{nbnd}}2
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 8{{nbnd}}2
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers<br>95{{nbnd}}53
| Rangers win 12 straight home meetings (August 2015 – June 2016).
|-
| {{mlby|2017}}
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | '''Astros'''
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | '''12{{nbnd}}7'''
| Tie, 5{{nbnd}}5
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros, 7{{nbnd}}2
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers<br>102{{nbnd}}65
| Astros win [[2017 World Series]].
|-
| {{mlby|2018}}
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | '''Astros'''
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | '''12{{nbnd}}7'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 6{{nbnd}}3
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros, 9{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers<br>109{{nbnd}}77
|
|-
| {{mlby|2019}}
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | '''Astros'''
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | '''13{{nbnd}}6'''
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros, 9{{nbnd}}0
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 6{{nbnd}}4
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers<br>115{{nbnd}}90
| Astros win nine straight games in Arlington (March 2018 – April 2019). Astros lose [[2019 World Series]].
{{Game log section end}}
{{Game log section start|hide=n|style={{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};|title=2020s (Astros, 54–3)1 |Season|colspan2=2|Season series|at [[Houston Astros]] |at [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] |Overall series|Notes}}
|-
| {{mlby|2020}}
| '''Tie'''
| '''5{{nbnd}}5'''
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros, 4{{nbnd}}2
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 3{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers<br>120{{nbnd}}95
| 10-game series in [[COVID-19]]-shortened season. Astros win tiebreaker by outscoring Rangers 42–37.
|-
| {{mlby|2021}}
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | '''Astros'''
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | '''14{{nbnd}}5'''
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros, 9{{nbnd}}0
| Tie, 5{{nbnd}}5
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers<br>125{{nbnd}}109
| For second time in last three seasons, Astros win all home games versus Rangers; Astros lose [[2021 World Series]].
|-
| {{mlby|2022}}
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | '''Astros'''
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | '''14{{nbnd}}5'''
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros, 7{{nbnd}}3
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros, 7{{nbnd}}2
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers<br>130{{nbnd}}123
| Astros win [[2022 World Series]].
|-
| {{mlby|2023}}
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | '''Astros'''
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | '''9{{nbnd}}4'''
| Tie, 3{{nbnd}}3
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros, 6{{nbnd}}1
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers<br>134{{nbnd}}132
| Season series changed from 19 games to 13 games. Teams finished tied atop the AL West, but Astros win tiebreaker by virtue of winning head-to-head series. Rangers win [[2023 World Series]].
|- style="background:#f2f2f2; font-weight:bold;"
| [[2023 American League Championship Series|2023 ALCS]]
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''Rangers'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''4{{nbnd}}3'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 4{{nbnd}}0
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros, 3{{nbnd}}0
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers<br>138{{nbnd}}135
| First meeting in the postseason. Away team won all seven games.
|-
| {{mlby|2024}}
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | '''Astros'''
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | '''7{{nbnd}}6'''
| Tie, 3{{nbnd}}3
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros, 4{{nbnd}}3
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers<br>144{{nbnd}}142
| 
|-
| {{mlby|2025}}
| '''Tie'''
| '''2{{nbnd}}2'''
| ''Upcoming, July 11{{nbnd}}13, September 15{{nbnd}}17''
| Tie, 2{{nbnd}}2
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers<br>146{{nbnd}}144
| ''Upcoming at Texas, September 5{{nbnd}}7''
{{Game log section end}}
{{Game log section start|hide=y|style={{Baseball primary style|}};|title=Summary of Results|Season|colspan2=2|Season series|at [[Houston Astros]] |at [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] |Notes}}
|-
| Regular Season<!--through May 18, 2025-->
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''Rangers'''
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''142{{nbnd}}141'''
| <!--at HOU--> style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros, 72{{nbnd}}67
| <!--at TEX--> style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 75{{nbnd}}69
| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | '''Silver Boot Series (thru 2024)'''
Astros 11, Rangers 9, Ties 4
|-
| Postseason games 
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''Rangers''' 
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''4{{nbnd}}3''' 
| <!--at HOU--> style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 4{{nbnd}}0
| <!--at TEX--> style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros, 3{{nbnd}}0
| 
|-
| Postseason Series
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''Rangers''' 
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''1{{nbnd}}0'''
| <!--at HOU--> style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 1{{nbnd}}0
| <!--at TEX--> style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros, 1{{nbnd}}0
| ALCS: [[2023 American League Championship Series|2023]]
|-
| Regular and postseason <!--through May 19, 2025-->
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''Rangers''' 
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | '''146{{nbnd}}144'''
| <!--at HOU--> style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}};" | Astros, 72{{nbnd}}71
| <!--at TEX--> style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}};" | Rangers, 75{{nbnd}}72
| 
{{Game log section end}}
{{Game log end}}

==Notable players who played on both teams==
A total of 77 players have played for both franchises.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/friv/multifranchise.cgi?level=franch&t1=TEX&t2=HOU&t3=--&t4=--|title=Players who played for Texas Rangers and Houston Astros {{!}} Baseball-Reference.com|website=Baseball-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=2018-08-30}}</ref> But out of those 77, only 3 have played their entire careers for both teams: [[Chuck Jackson (baseball)|Chuck Jackson]], [[Mike Richardt]], and [[Mike Simms]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/friv/multifranchise.cgi?level=franch&t1=HOU&t2=TEX&t3=&t4=&exclusively=1&submit=Find+Players#Players |title=who played for Houston Astros and Texas Rangers exclusively |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=October 18, 2011}}</ref> Two players, [[Nolan Ryan]] and [[Iván Rodríguez]], have been elected to the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame]]. Only six players have played for both the Rangers and Astros against their in-state opponent since 2001. Those players are: [[Doug Brocail]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TEX/TEX200805160.shtml |title=May 16, 2008 Houston Astros at Texas Rangers Play by Play and Box Score |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date=May 16, 2008 |access-date=October 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU200407030.shtml |title=July 3, 2004 Texas Rangers at Houston Astros Play by Play and Box Score |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date=July 3, 2004 |access-date=October 18, 2011}}</ref> [[Robinson Chirinos]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TEX/TEX201807040.shtml|title=Houston Astros at Texas Rangers Box Score, July 4, 2018|website=Baseball-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=2019-05-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU201905090.shtml|title=Texas Rangers at Houston Astros Box Score, May 9, 2019|website=Baseball-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=2019-05-10}}</ref> [[Richard Hidalgo]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TEX/TEX200106080.shtml |title=June 8, 2001 Houston Astros at Texas Rangers Box Score and Play by Play |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date=June 8, 2001 |access-date=October 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TEX/TEX200505200.shtml |title=May 20, 2005 Houston Astros at Texas Rangers Box Score and Play by Play |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date=May 20, 2005 |access-date=October 18, 2011}}</ref> [[Mike Lamb]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU200106170.shtml |title=June 17, 2001 Texas Rangers at Houston Astros Box Score and Play by Play |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date=June 17, 2001 |access-date=October 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU200506250.shtml |title=June 25, 2005 Texas Rangers at Houston Astros Box Score and Play by Play |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date=June 25, 2005 |access-date=October 18, 2011}}</ref> [[Hunter Pence]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU200705200.shtml|title=Texas Rangers at Houston Astros Box Score, May 20, 2007|website=Baseball-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=2019-05-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU201905090.shtml|title=Texas Rangers at Houston Astros Box Score, May 9, 2019|website=Baseball-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=2019-05-10}}</ref> and [[Iván Rodríguez]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU200905230.shtml |title=May 23, 2009 Texas Rangers at Houston Astros Box Score and Play by Play |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date=May 23, 2009 |access-date=October 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TEX/TEX200206280.shtml |title=June 28, 2002 Houston Astros at Texas Rangers Play by Play and Box Score |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date=June 28, 2002 |access-date=October 18, 2011}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Name !! Position(s) !! style="{{Baseball secondary style|Houston Astros}}"|Astros tenure !! style="{{Baseball primary style|Texas Rangers}}"|Rangers tenure
|-
| [[Pedro Astacio]]
| [[Pitcher]]
| 2001
| 2005
|-
| [[Anthony Bass]]
| [[Pitcher]]
| 2014
| 2015
|-
| [[Carlos Beltrán]]
| [[Center fielder]] / [[Designated hitter]]
| 2004, 2017
| 2016
|-
| [[Lance Berkman]]
| [[Outfielder]] / [[First baseman]] / [[Designated hitter]]
| 1999–2010, 2014{{efn|One Day Retirement Contract on April 5, 2014.}}
| 2013
|-
| [[Doug Brocail]]
| [[Pitcher]]
| 2008–2009
| 2004–2005
|-
| [[Ken Caminiti]]
| [[Third baseman]]
| 1987–1994, 1999–2000
| 2001
|-
| [[Bruce Chen]]
| [[Pitcher]]
| 2003
| 2007
|-
| [[Robinson Chirinos]]
| [[Catcher]]
| 2019
| 2013–2018, 2020
|-
| [[Francisco Cordero]]
| [[Pitcher]]
| 2012
| 2000–2006
|-
| [[Carlos Corporán]]
| [[Catcher]]
| 2011–2014
| 2015
|-
| [[Carl Everett]]
| [[Outfielder]]
| 1998–1999
| 2002–2003
|-
| [[Scott Feldman]]
| [[Pitcher]]
| 2014–2016
| 2005–2012
|-
| [[Armando Galarraga]]
| [[Pitcher]]
| 2012
| 2007
|-
| [[Carlos Gómez]]
| [[Center fielder]]
| 2015–2016
| 2016–17
|-
| [[Richard Hidalgo]]
| [[Outfielder]]
| 1997–2004
| 2005
|-
| [[Mike Lamb]]
| [[Third baseman]] / [[First baseman]]
| 2004–2007
| 2000–2003
|-
| [[Carlos Lee]]
| [[Left fielder]]
| 2007–2012
| 2006
|-
| [[Dan Miceli]]
| [[Pitcher]]
| 2003–2004
| 2002
|-
| [[C. J. Nitkowski]]
| [[Pitcher]]
| 1998
| 2002–03<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nitkoc.01.shtml|title=C.J. Nitkowski Stats}}</ref>
|-
| [[Darren Oliver]]
| [[Pitcher]]
| 2004
| 1993–1998, 2000–2001, 2010–2011
|-
| [[Roy Oswalt]]
| [[Pitcher]]
| 2001–2010, 2014{{efn|One Day Retirement Contract on April 5, 2014.}}
| 2012
|-
| [[Carlos Peña]]
| [[First baseman]] / [[Designated hitter]]
| 2013
| 2001, 2014
|-
| [[Hunter Pence]]
| [[Right fielder]] / [[Designated hitter]]
| 2007–2011
| 2019
|-
| [[Jay Powell (baseball)|Jay Powell]]
| [[Pitcher]]
| 1998–2001
| 2002–2004
|-
| [[Iván Rodríguez]]
| [[Catcher]]
| 2009
| 1991–2002, 2009
|-
| [[Wandy Rodríguez]]
| [[Pitcher]]
| 2005–2012
| 2015
|-
| [[Nolan Ryan]]
| [[Pitcher]]
| 1980–1988
| 1989–1993
|-
| [[Gregg Zaun]]
| [[Catcher]]
| 2002–2003
| 1999
|-
|}

==Rivalry trivia==
{{Trivia section|date=December 2024}}
* Former Astros and Rangers pitcher Nolan Ryan chose to have his Hall of Fame plaque depicted with a Rangers cap, even though he played only five seasons (1989–93) with the Rangers compared to nine (1980–88) with the Astros.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/gallery/hall-of-fame-cap-griffey-piazza-randy-johnson-maddux-reggie-ryan-carter-fisk-winfield-010816|title=10 times Hall of Fame cap decisions made fans furious|work=FOX Sports|access-date=2017-11-15|language=en-US}}</ref> He later played roles in both the Astros and Rangers front-office staff.
* The Houston Astros played Game 3 of the [[2005 World Series]] on October 25, 2005. It was the first World Series game played in the state of Texas.
* The Texas Rangers won Game 3 of the [[2010 World Series]] on October 30, 2010. It was the first World Series game won by a team from Texas.
* Former Astro [[Lance Berkman]] won a World Series Championship with the [[2011 St. Louis Cardinals season|2011 St. Louis Cardinals]] providing big moments in Game 6 against the Rangers.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/strike-zone/2014/01/30/lance-berkman-retires-astros-rangers-cardinals|title=Lance Berkman retires, leaving legacy as a great player but not a Hall of Famer|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=2017-11-14|language=en}}</ref> Berkman later played for the Rangers in 2013 but signed a one-day contract to officially retire as an Astro on April 5, 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/roy-oswalt-lance-berkman-officially-retire-as-astros/c-71082444|title=Roy Oswalt, Lance Berkman officially retire as Astros|website=Major League Baseball|language=en-US|access-date=2017-11-15}}</ref>
* The Astros defeated the Rangers on March 31, 2013, in their first game as a member of the AL West.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2013/01/03/mlb-season-opener-astros-rangers-march-31/1807429/|title=Astros, Rangers to open 2013 MLB season|work=USA Today|access-date=2017-11-14|language=en}}</ref>
* Former Ranger [[Yu Darvish]] lost two games against the Astros as a member of the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] in the [[2017 World Series]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/01/sports/world-series-dodgers-astros.html|title=How the Astros Won World Series Game 7, Inning by Inning|last1=Hoffman|first1=Benjamin|date=2017-11-01|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-11-14|last2=Waldstein|first2=David|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
* The Astros won the [[2017 World Series]] over the Dodgers, becoming the first team from Texas to win a World Series (the Astros had previously lost the [[2005 World Series]], while the Rangers lost both of their first two appearances, in {{wsy|2010}} and {{wsy|2011}}, and would not win their first championship until {{wsy|2023}}).
* On June 15, 2022, the Astros had two different players pitch an [[immaculate inning]] against the same three Rangers batters. This is the only instance in MLB history of a team pitching two immaculate innings in the same game.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34097896/houston-astros-luis-garcia-phil-maton-first-recorded-history-throw-immaculate-innings-one-game | title=Houston Astros' Luis Garcia, Phil Maton first in recorded history to throw immaculate innings in one game | date=June 15, 2022 }}</ref>
* The [[2023 American League Championship Series]] was the first postseason matchup of the Astros and the Rangers, and the first League Championship Series to be played entirely in one state (excluding the neutral site games of the [[2020 Major League Baseball postseason|2020 MLB postseason]]).<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38637088/astros-close-twins-advance-alcs-vs-rangers | title=Astros close out Twins, setting up ALCS showdown vs. Rangers | date=October 11, 2023}}</ref>
* This is one of two instances where both teams in one state play in the same league, with the other being the NL teams in Pennsylvania ([[Philadelphia Phillies]] and [[Pittsburgh Pirates]]).

==See also==
*[[Governor's Cup (Texas)]] (NFL)
*[[Texas Derby]] (MLS)
*[[Mavericks–Rockets rivalry]] (NBA)
*[[Major League Baseball rivalries]]

==Explanatory notes==
{{notelist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book|title=Texas Almanac 2008–2009|author=The Dallas Morning News|year=2008}}
* {{cite book|title=Southwest Conference's Greatest Hits|first=Neal|last=Farmer|year=1996}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Houston Astros}}
{{Texas Rangers}}
{{MLB rivalries}}

[[Category:Houston Astros]]
[[Category:Texas Rangers (baseball)]]
[[Category:Baseball in Texas]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball rivalries]]
[[Category:Nicknamed sporting events]]
[[Category:2001 establishments in Texas]]