How Houston Astros-Texas Rangers rivalry defines the state - ESPN

RYAN PRESSLY REMEMBERS how it felt to sit in the stands and watch the Texas Rangers play during the 2010 ALCS. He's sitting inside Minute Maid Park's news conference room, the shadow from the bill of his Houston Astros hat covers his eyes.

Pressly grew up in the Dallas area, a fan of the Rangers and especially Michael Young, and now he's a relief pitcher for the Astros.

«I never thought I would be in this situation,» Pressly says. «I'm just thankful to be here.»

Even though he's a popular player this series, he's a man of few words. He doesn't even have a social media account, saying he believes «in staying quiet and doing his job.»

«He likes to keep to himself,» Kat Pressly says of her husband. «He likes to be out on the ranch, be out in nature, go hunting. He doesn't like a lot of attention or media around him.»

Since Ryan is focused on helping the Astros right the series, Kat's the one in charge of getting tickets for his family when the games move to Arlington. She guesses they've gotten about 20 tickets, but since her phone keeps ringing — some of them calls from Ryan's best friends — it'll probably be much more than that by Wednesday night's Game 3. Ryan's told them all that since they'll be sitting in the Astros' family section, they can't wear anything with the Rangers on it.

Asked if he's excited about playing his childhood team, Ryan says he doesn't see this series as anything different.

«It's the same game. It just happens to be in my hometown,» he says.

JOSE RUIZ IS down on one knee looking up at the mural on the third base line outside of Minute Maid Park and taking pictures with his phone.

«You from Houston?» I ask.

«Hell yeah,» he says as he rises to his feet and straightens his orange-colored dress shirt