Rays visit the Astros to open 3-game series

Tampa Bay Rays (55-53, fourth in the AL East) vs. Houston Astros (56-52, first in the AL West)

Houston; Friday, 8:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Rays: Shane Baz (0-1, 3.66 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 19 strikeouts); Astros: Yusei Kikuchi (4-9, 4.75 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 130 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Astros -161, Rays +137; over/under is 8 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros host the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday to begin a three-game series.

Houston has a 31-24 record at home and a 56-52 record overall. The Astros have the 10th-best team on-base percentage in the majors at .320.

Tampa Bay has a 25-24 record in road games and a 55-53 record overall. The Rays have an 18-10 record in games decided by one run.

Friday's game is the first time these teams square off this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Yordan Alvarez has 25 doubles, two triples and 20 home runs for the Astros. Yainer Diaz is 15-for-39 with three doubles, a triple, two home runs and seven RBI over the past 10 games.

Yandy Diaz has a .271 batting average to lead the Rays, and has 21 doubles, a triple and nine home runs. Brandon Lowe is 11-for-34 with two home runs and seven RBI over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Astros: 4-6, .260 batting average, 4.55 ERA, outscored by eight runs

Rays: 6-4, .216 batting average, 3.03 ERA, outscored opponents by 12 runs

INJURIES: Astros: Kyle Tucker: 60-Day IL (shin), Justin Verlander: 15-Day IL (neck), Cristian Javier: 60-Day IL (forearm), Jose Urquidy: 60-Day IL (forearm), Oliver Ortega: 60-Day IL (elbow), Bennett Sousa: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Penn Murfee: 60-Day IL (elbow), Luis Garcia: 60-Day IL (elbow), Lance McCullers Jr.: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kendall Graveman: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Rays: Richard Palacios: day-to-day (knee), Ryan Pepiot: 15-Day IL (knee), Richard Lovelady: 15-Day IL (forearm), Jacob Waguespack: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Drew Rasmussen: 60-Day IL (elbow), Shane McClanahan: 60-Day IL (forearm)

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.