Here's 10 bits of trivia worth noting before the Season Opener:
*Bud Norris has fared significantly better at home than on the road in his 4 year career. In the confines of Minute Maid Park, Norris is 17-14 with a 3.51 ERA. Everywhere else he is 11-23 and his ERA is 5.39. Norris has never faced the Rangers.
*Rick Ankiel is a career .244 hitter, but has hit .300 (18/60) in 21 games at Minute Maid Park.
*Carlos Pena has 277 home runs in his Major League career, but none of them have been hit in Minute Maid Park.
*Jason Castro slugged 6 home runs in 49 plate appearances this spring. He homered only 6 times the entire 2012 season while making 295 plate appearances.
*The Astros went just 1-5 against the Rangers last year. Their one win came on May 19th, when they were backed by home runs from Chris Snyder, Carlos Lee and Justin Maxwell and squeaked by 6-5. Lucas Harrell got the win for the Astros holding the Rangers to one earned run in 5 2/3 innings.
*Houston hasn't won on Opening Day since 2006, when they defeated the Florida Marlins 1-0. Roy Oswalt started and tossed eight scoreless innings to earn the win and Craig Biggio scored the game's only run on a wild pitch. The Astros starting lineup that day featured: Craig Biggio (2B), Willy Taveras (CF), Lance Berkman (1B), Morgan Ensberg (3B), Preston Wilson (LF), Jason Lane (RF), Brad Ausmus (C), Adam Everett (SS) and Oswalt (P).
*Rule 5 Draft Pick Josh Fields appeared in 42 games between AA and AAA with the Red Sox last year posting a 2.01 ERA and tallying 12 saves. He did not allow a run in 10 AAA appearances in 2012.
*Marwin Gonzalez homered twice this spring after homering just twice his entire rookie season.
*Houston's All Star Second Baseman Jose Altuve is a career .286 hitter, but has gone just 5 for 22 (.227) in 6 games against the Rangers.
*Rangers Opening Day Starter Matt Harrison has never beaten the Astros in his 5 year Major League career going 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA in 4 appearances (two starts).
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