Astros vs. Rangers Wednesday MLB probable pitchers, odds: Future Hall of Famers Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer face off for first time

When the Mets dealt three-time Cy Young Award winners and future Hall of Famers Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer to the Astros and Rangers, respectively, around the trade deadline, it led MLB fans to daydream of a possible AL playoff showdown between the two legends. Whether or not that happens remains to be seen, but Verlander and Scherzer are set to face off in a huge series finale in Arlington on Wednesday – their first time as opposing starters in a game. Texas is a short home favorite on the SportsLine consensus.

"That'll be fun," Scherzer said. "First time facing him. My whole career, I've got to face all the best guys in the world and I've got to play with all the best guys in the world. So I got to play with [Verlander] for a while. Now it's going to be fun to actually go up against him."

Consider that only 11 pitchers in history have won three Cy Young Awards, as both right-handers have. Verlander and Scherzer's 467 combined career wins will be the most by opposing starters over the past 15 seasons. It will be the first time since CC Sabathia and Mark Buehrle faced off in 2015 that there has been a meeting of two starters with at last 200 career wins.

Verlander and Scherzer barely missed squaring off in the 2019 World Series, won by Washington in seven games over Houston. Scherzer pitched and won Game 1 for the Nationals and took a no-decision in Game 7. Verlander lost Games 2 and 6. If they meet again this year, it will be in the playoffs -- Wednesday's game is the final scheduled meeting between the Astros and Rangers.

Of course, Verlander and Scherzer were first teammates on the Detroit Tigers from 2010 to 2014, after which Scherzer left for Washington. They reunited on the Mets this year, but New York traded away both for prospects in a semi-reboot after the season imploded. The two weren't the best of friends to begin with, and Verlander was reportedly unpopular with some in the Mets clubhouse.

The 40-year-old Verlander is 10-7 overall this year with a 3.34 ERA and 4-2 with a 3.86 ERA in six starts back with the Astros. Both losses came against the Yankees, and Verlander was hammered for six runs and a season-high four home runs against the Bombers last time out. Verlander hasn't faced Texas this year. He is set at over/under 3.5 earned runs, 5.5 strikeouts, 16.5 outs recorded and 5.5 hits allowed. He's +230 for a win.

Scherzer, 39, is 12-5 with a 3.55 ERA overall in 2023 and 3-1 with a 2.21 ERA in six starts with Texas. He shut out the Twins on one hit over six innings last time out over 88 pitches but took a no-decision. He was pulled at that fairly low pitch count due to some forearm tightness, but was fine in a recent bullpen session and is ready to go Wednesday on a bit of extra rest. Scherzer pitched in Houston back on June 19 with the Mets, allowing one run over eight in a victory.

He is 5-1 with a 2.98 ERA in 60.1 career innings vs. Houston and has won his past five. Scherzer is also 10 strikeouts shy of tying Greg Maddux for 10th all-time with 3,371 (Verlander is 13th with 3,311). Scherzer is set with O/U totals of 2.5 earned runs, 5.5 strikeouts, 17.5 outs recorded, 4.5 hits allowed. The Rangers ace is +140 for a win.

Presumably, both these pitchers will return in 2024 as both have contracts; otherwise, this could be the last matchup of pitchers with 3,000 career strikeouts for a very long time (if not ever) in the Show.

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