On deck: Kansas City Royals at Astros

When/where: Today at 7:10 p.m., Saturday at 6:15 p.m., Sunday at 1:10 p.m.; Minute Maid Park.

TV/radio: ATTSW today and Sunday, Fox on Saturday; 790 AM, 850 AM (Spanish), 101.7 FM (Spanish).

Pitchers: Today, LHP Dallas Keuchel (4-8, 4.15) vs. LHP Danny Duffy (3-7, 5.55); Saturday, RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (8-3, 3.77) vs. RHP Ian Kennedy (1-7, 5.31); Sunday, RHP Justin Velander (9-2, 1.60) vs. RHP Jason Hammel (2-8, 4.88).

Astros (50-26) update: Jose Altuve leads the majors in batting (.347) and hits (105) and has a .433 average (42-for-97) in his last 25 games. … With 1,352 career hits, Altuve is five shy of Terry Puhl for seventh on the Astros’ career list. With 608 runs, he’s three away from ninthplace Bill Doran. … Among those with at least 130 plate appearances, Max Stassi leads all American League catchers in WAR (1.3), slugging (.504) and OPS (.842). Royals (22-52) update: Three years removed from its World Series championship, Kansas City has lost nine straight games and just completed an 0-8 homestand. … In light of that skid and the dealing of Kelvin Herrera to the Nationals this week, it’s anyone’s guess who will emerge as the Royals’ closer. … They have scored just 38 runs in 18 June games (2.1 runs per game) and as a team are slashing .188/.248/ .297 this month. …Oddly, the Royals and Astros have grounded into an MLB-leading 74 double plays.