On deck: Astros at Texas Rangers
When/where: Today and Saturday at 7:05 p.m., Sunday at 2:05 p.m.; Globe Life Park.
TV/radio: ATTSW today and Sunday, ATTSW+ on Saturday, FSSW all three days; 790 AM, 740 AM (today and Sunday), 101.7 FM (Spanish), 850 AM (Spanish, today and Sunday).
Pitchers: Today, RHP Justin Verlander (2-0, 3.52) vs. LHP Drew Smyly (0-1, 7.15); Saturday, RHP Gerrit Cole (1-2, 3.24) vs. RHP Adrian Sampson (0-1, 5.93); Sunday, RHP Collin McHugh (3-1, 1.96) vs. RHP Shelby Miller (0-1, 9.00).
Astros (12-6) update: The team .271 batting average ranked second in MLB (through Wednesday) to the Dodgers’ .277. The Astros’ .348 on-base percentage was leading the AL and ranked sixth in the majors. … In the last series at Oakland, George Springer hit his 26th career leadoff homer, second in club history to Craig Biggio’s 53. Springer is tied for 14th on the all-time American League list with Curtis Granderson and Devon White. … Through Wednesday’s games, McHugh’s ERA ranked fourth in the AL and seventh in the majors. Cole (36), Verlander (30) and McHugh (27) stood second, 10th and 18th in the majors in strikeouts. … Dating to last season, reliever Ryan Pressly hasn’t given up a run in 28 consecutive appearances, the longest streak in club history.
Rangers (10-7) update: Texas is 2-1 against the Astros this season, having taken two of three games in Arlington at the start of April. … Since a 1-for-10 start to the season, Shin-Soo Choo is hitting .400 over his last 13 games. His OPS for the year is 1.046. … Shortstop Elvis Andrus is off to a .386/.411/.600 start at the plate and through Wednesday was second in the AL with 27 hits. … As reflected by his 6.14 ERA, closer Jose Leclerc has had some shaky moments while converting five of six save chances. On Wednesday, he loaded the bases with nobody out but allowed only one run in preserving a 5-4 win over the Angels. … Lefty reliever Kyle Bird was optioned to Class AAA Nashville on Thursday. Lefthander Brett Martin, who has yet to make his major league debut, is expected to be called up from Nashville on Friday to fill the bullpen opening.