Astros vs. Rangers

The Astros-Rangers rivalry, known as the Lone Star Series, is Major League Baseball's premier intra-state rivalry. While the teams played interleague games for years, the rivalry intensified dramatically when Houston moved to the American League West in 2013, placing both Texas franchises in the same division. The resulting twice-yearly series have become the most anticipated dates on both teams' calendars.

The rivalry reached its peak in the 2020s as both teams became legitimate World Series contenders. Houston's sign-stealing scandal added a layer of animosity that extended beyond normal competitive hostility. Rangers fans, who felt the Astros' 2017 championship was tainted, took particular pleasure in confronting Houston at every opportunity. When the Rangers won the 2023 World Series after defeating the Astros in the ALCS, it felt like a cathartic moment for an entire fan base.

Geography gives this rivalry a unique flavor. Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas' two largest metropolitan areas, have always competed for cultural supremacy — in business, in cuisine, in lifestyle. Baseball gave that competition a scoreboard, and the result has been one of the fastest-growing rivalries in Major League Baseball.