Athletes to watch

Colby Rasmus

He became the third Astros players this season to be named American League player of the week after he hit four home runs, drove in 10 and had a 1.458 OPS in six games against the Rangers and Red Sox. Going into this weekend’s series at Oakland, he has become one of the most entertaining players to watch on a team with Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve.

Stacy Lewis

The golfer from The Woodlands won the LPGA’s Volunteers of America Texas Shootout in Irving in 2014, her victory sandwiched between two there by Inbee Park. Lewis won twice more that year but hasn’t won since. She’s hoping to break the drought this weekend on familiar grounds.

Erica Enders-Stevens

The NHRA star from Cypress Springs High School had eight victories last year, surpassing Shirley Muldowney as the most successful woman in the history of the sport. She will be close to home this weekend in Baytown amid a season in which she’s trying to win her third consecutive Pro Stock World Championship.

Tim Duncan

He will be playing his first game since turning 40 on Monday when the Spurs open the Western Conference semifinals Saturday at San Antonio against Oklahoma City. His teammates sang happy birthday at practice Wednesday but said there were no “over the hill” jokes. “Nah,” Danny Green said. “He’s too old for that.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

NASCAR’s most popular driver will be attempting to win for the seventh time on Sunday at Talladega, which would give him the most victories of any active driver at the storied track. He won there for the first of his three victories last season. His best finish this season has been a second.