Texas Rangers (17-20, third in the AL West) vs. Houston Astros (25-14, first in the AL West)
Houston; Friday, 8:10 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Rangers: Martin Perez (2-2, 2.01 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 33 strikeouts); Astros: Cristian Javier (2-1, 3.20 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 30 strikeouts)
LINE: Astros -178, Rangers +152; over/under is 8 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros play the Texas Rangers after Jose Altuve had four hits against the Rangers on Thursday.
Houston has a 25-14 record overall and a 10-4 record at home. Astros pitchers have a collective 2.96 ERA, which ranks third in the majors.
Texas has a 10-12 record in home games and a 17-20 record overall. The Rangers are 11-2 in games when they have more hits than their opponents.
The matchup Friday is the sixth time these teams square off this season. The Astros have a 4-1 advantage in the season series.
TOP PERFORMERS: Michael Brantley is seventh on the Astros with a .285 batting average, and has eight doubles, a triple, three home runs, 13 walks and 15 RBI. Altuve is 13-for-40 with four home runs and seven RBI over the past 10 games.
Corey Seager leads Texas with eight home runs while slugging .432. Kole Calhoun is 13-for-31 with four home runs and 11 RBI over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Astros: 7-3, .271 batting average, 3.00 ERA, outscored opponents by 30 runs
Rangers: 6-4, .233 batting average, 4.40 ERA, outscored by five runs
INJURIES: Astros: Jake Odorizzi: 15-Day IL (leg), Taylor Jones: 60-Day IL (back), Lance McCullers Jr.: 60-Day IL (forearm), Jacob Meyers: 10-Day IL (shoulder)
Rangers: Albert Abreu: 15-Day IL (ankle), Jose Leclerc: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jonathan Hernandez: 60-Day IL (elbow)
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