Few rivalries in Major League Baseball have been able to bring the fireworks that the Rangers and Astros Silver Boot Showdown has provided over the last few years.

Multiple benches-clearing brawls and the Rangers’ seven-game ALCS victory last October have blood boiling at an all-time high between the two squads from the Lone Star State.

2024 has been anything but kind to both of the Silver Boot rivals. While things have started to trend up for the Astros, Houston sits at just 57-54 but enters play Monday just one game back of the Mariners for first place in the AL West.

As for the Rangers, things haven’t gotten going all season long with Texas well below .500 at 53-59 and precious sand may be pouring out of the hourglass for a team that desperately needs to get hot.

Having the Silver Boot on the line may be just what the doctor ordered for a Rangers team that needs a spark to push themselves back into the playoff race.

The Rangers and Astros have each won three games apiece in their season set this year, meaning that this week’s showdown at Globe Life Field will determine the winner of the 2024 Silver Boot.

With a series win, the Rangers will secure their first Lone Star series showdown win since 2016 after Houston has dominated the series for the better part of the decade.

Not only is the series huge from a rivalry standpoint, but it is also a massive series for both teams as far as playoff contention goes.

Entering play on Monday, the Rangers sit 4.5 games behind the second-place Astros and with a sweep would move just 1.5 out. However, if Texas is swept, they will find themselves 7.5 games behind the Astros with less than two months to play.

Texas and Houston will open their three-game set tonight at 7:05 from the Globe in Arlington with Andrew Heaney toeing the bump for the Rangers against Hunter Brown for the Astros.

Following tonight’s game, the Rangers starting pitchers are listed as TBD for both Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon.

Anytime the Rangers and Astros meet up, it’s must-see TV for any baseball fan but this week’s set will be one that is can’t miss.