The last time they shared a field with the Texas Rangers they were boat raced out of the American League Championship Series on their home field, and the reminders will be everywhere.
The Rangers 2023 World Series banner will be in full view from the visitor’s dugout, there will be an Evan Carter bobblehead giveaway, commemorating his leaping catch in the eighth inning of game one of that series, and there will be countless highlights played over the Astros four-day stay.
“We’re looking forward to that series,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “You already start seeing some of the talk in the clubhouse, the excitement about going to Dallas, and starting that four-game series against them.”
There had always been hints of a rivalry during the first decade they shared the same division, but it fully blossomed in 2023. A full 162 games were need to decide an AL West champion, which was followed by a tense seven-game ALCS. Benches cleared in the regular season and postseason.
"There's no bad blood there,” Yordan Alvarez said through an interpreter. “Obviously, they're the champs from last year, they played some good baseball, but that's not going to change anything. We're still going to go out there and try to win."
Alvarez said this weekend’s series would feel no different than any other April, and Espada doesn’t feel like the way last season ended will provide any added motivation.
“I don’t think our players need that to be motivated,” Espada said. “They’re players who are motivated to win, so I don’t think that will play any role in our focus and desire to win that series.”
Friday’s game in Arlington will be the first of 13 between the Astros and Rangers in 2024. The two teams will play a three-game set at Minute Maid Park next weekend.