HOUSTON (Interstat) — The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros open a three-game series Friday at Daikin Park with both teams looking to climb out of early-season mediocrity.

The Rangers (21-22) enter the game at .500 after winning three of four games against Arizona at home, including a 6-5 victory Wednesday. Houston (17-28) has lost four of its last five, falling 8-3 to Seattle on Thursday.

Right-hander Kumar Rocker is a player to watch for Texas. Rocker (2-3) earned the win Wednesday against the Diamondbacks, allowing three hits and no earned runs over five innings with three strikeouts. The outing followed a rough stretch in which Rocker yielded 11 earned runs over 5 2/3 innings across consecutive losses to the Cubs and Tigers. In five starts this season, Rocker has a 4.37 ERA.

Designated hitter Yordan Alvarez leads Houston’s offense. Alvarez went 3-for-3 with a home run and an RBI in Thursday’s loss to Seattle, raising his season average to .256. The slugger is 6-for-17 (.353) over his last five games with two home runs and three RBIs. In his last 10 games, Alvarez has four multi-hit performances and has driven in five runs.

The Rangers won a tight contest Wednesday behind Jake Burger, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs. Texas has scored four or more runs in five of its last six games.

Houston has struggled to generate offense, scoring two runs or fewer in six of its last nine games. The Astros are last in the American League West, 5 1/2 games behind division-leading Seattle.

Texas enters as a slight favorite at -1.5 on the run line. The over/under is set at 8.5 runs. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 5-4 Rangers victory.

Following Friday’s game, the series continues Saturday and Sunday before Texas travels to Colorado and Houston heads to Minnesota. The teams meet again later this month for a two-game set in Arlington.