On deck: Texas Rangers at Astros

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

TV/radio: ATTSW, FSSW; 790 AM, 740 AM, 850 AM (Spanish), 101.7 (Spanish).

Pitchers: Today, RHP Justin Verlander (11-4, 2.98) vs. LHP Mike Minor (8-4, 2.73); Saturday, TBD vs. RHP Ariel Jurado (5-5, 4.63); Sunday, RHP Rogelio Armenteros (0-0, 2.00) vs. RHP Lance Lynn (12-5, 3.87). Astros (61-37) update: They’re an AL-best 33-14 at home, putting them on pace for the best home mark in franchise history. … With 29 RBIs entering Thursday’s finale against the Angels, Yordan Alvarez was one of four players in major league history to have that many in his first 25 games, joining Mandy Brooks (32 for the 1925 Cubs), Jim Greengrass (30 for the 1952-53 Reds) and Zeke Bonura (29 for the 1934 White Sox). … His 215th career victory Sunday, which came against the Rangers, tied Justin Verlander with Hall of Famer Stan Coveleski and Jim Perry for 88th place all-time. Verlander’s next win will pull him even with Curt Schilling, Charlie Hough and Wilbur Cooper for 85th.

Rangers (50-46) update: After beating the Astros in its first two games after the All-Star break, Texas has lost four games in a row as it embarks on a 10-game road trip. The Rangers have been outscored 40-10 in their last three losses, including a 19-4 drubbing by the Diamondbacks on Wednesday. … Utility man Danny Santana is hitting .316 for the season and in his last seven games has a .538/.571/1.115 slash line with four home runs and eight RBIs. … With third baseman Asdrubal Cabrera having hit .131 (11-for-84) in his last 25 games, Texas might give Santana, who has played six other positions this season, a look there. Santana took grounders at third before Wednesday’s game. … Mike Minor and Lance Lynn are a combined 20-9 with a 3.31 ERA in 39 starts; the rest of the Rangers’ starters are 10-21 with a 7.04 ERA in the other 57 starts.