ON DECK: ASTROS VS. YANKEES

When/where: Thursday at 3:10 p.m., Friday at 7:10 p.m., Saturday at 6:15 p.m., Sunday at 1:10 p.m.; Minute Maid Park.

TV: SCHN on Thursday and Sunday, Apple TV+ on Friday, Fox on Saturday.

Radio: 790 AM, 93.3 FM (Spanish), 1010 AM (Spanish). Starting pitchers: Thursday, LHP Framber Valdez (12-11, 3.45 ERA in 2023) vs. LHP Nestor Cortes (5-2, 4.97); Friday, RHP Cristian Javier (10-5, 4.56) vs. LHP Carlos Rodón (3-8, 6.85); Saturday, RHP Hunter Brown (11-13, 5.09) vs. RHP Marcus Stroman (10-9, 3.95); Sunday, TBD vs. RHP Clarke Schmidt (9-9, 4.64).

Astros update: Valdez will be the second lefthander in franchise history to make three consecutive opening-day starts. The other was Dallas Keuchel from 2015-17. … Among hitters enjoying robust springs in Florida were Mauricio Dubón (.471/.538/.706, seven RBIs in 34 Grapefruit League at-bats), Alex Bregman (.383/.431/.596, two homers, eight RBIs in 47 at-bats) and Kyle Tucker (.317/.391/.561, three homers, eight RBIs in 41 at-bats).

Yankees update: Dealt by the Padres in the offseason with one year left on his contract, right fielder Juan Soto arrives as MLB’s most ballyhooed acquisition. Soto, who owns a 157 OPS+ over his six-year career, slashed .304/.373/.630 this spring with four home runs and 10 RBIs in 46 at-bats. … 2022 AL MVP Aaron Judge, who shifts to center field from right this season, is always capable of winning more hardware if he can stay healthy. Judge followed up a 62-homer campaign with 37 long balls in 106 games last year, but his HR/AB ratio of 9.9 was better than his 11.2 figure of 2022. … Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole is currently out with right elbow inflammation. He’ll be sidelined into May at the least.