AP Sports Preview

SUGAR LAND, Texas (Interstat) — The Sugar Land Space Cowboys host the Round Rock Express in the first game of a doubleheader Thursday at 6:05 p.m. at Constellation Field.

Sugar Land (13-8) enters with the better record, while Round Rock (7-13) looks to snap a trend of close losses. The Space Cowboys won the most recent meeting 8-1 on March 29, and took two of three in the season-opening series.

Pitching matchup: Right-hander Trey Supak (3-1) starts for Round Rock. He earned a win Sunday against El Paso, tossing five innings of one-run ball with three strikeouts. In his last four starts, Supak has a 3.18 ERA and has allowed 19 hits over 17 innings.

Right-hander Joey Mancini (0-1) is scheduled for Sugar Land. He worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings in a win Sunday at Salt Lake, striking out four, but allowed three earned runs in his previous appearance.

Weather: 71 degrees, cloudy.

Projection: Interstat’s simulator favors Sugar Land 6-5.

Notes: Round Rock went 4-3 in its last seven games after an 0-6 stretch. Sugar Land has won four of its last five. The Express bullpen held El Paso scoreless over the final 2 2/3 innings Sunday, with Ryan Brasier and Robby Ahlstrom combining for zero earned runs. Collin Price homered and drove in two for Sugar Land in its 7-4 win Sunday.