Astros (2-5) update:

The season-opening homestand featured a stark difference between the rotation and bullpen. Astros starters have a collective 1.29 ERA through seven games, while the relievers have compiled a 6.00 figure and blew leads in four of Houston’s five losses. … Right-hander J.P. France, who Wednesday went on the Paternity List, will start Saturday’s game if back in time. … Including three wins in last year’s ALCS, the Astros have won their last eight games at Globe Life Field. … Jose Altuve has hit safely in all seven games this season and is off to a .345/.406/.759 start with three home runs and three doubles. … Catcher Yainer Diaz is hitting .462/.517/.731 and leads the team with 12 hits and six RBIs. … Manager Joe Espada was inducted into the University of Mobile Athletics Hall of Fame on Thursday night. A two-time Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year, Espada hit .442 over three seasons at his alma mater, including a school-record .468 in 1995.

Rangers (4-2) update: Texas won its first two series of the year, taking two of three games from the Cubs and Rays. … The Rangers will be without third baseman Josh Jung, whose right wrist was broken when a pitch hit him mid-swing Monday night, for eight to 10 weeks. Jung was off to a 7-for-17 start. … 22-year-old Wyatt Langford, last year’s No. 4 overall draft pick who made the team in spring training, hit safely in his first five MLB games before going 0-for-4 on Wednesday. … Evan Carter, who raked all the way through the postseason after a September call-up last year, is hitless in his first 15 at-bats of 2024 but tied for the AL lead in walks with six. … Adolis García, who terrorized the Astros with five home runs and 15 RBIs en route to MVP honors in last year’s ALCS, hit his 100th career homer Monday, becoming the 24th Ranger to do so. He’s slugging .640 for the season and has three home runs. …World Series MVP Corey Seager is 8-for-22 (.364) with one home run in the early going.