Monday’s Game Preview: Astros at Rangers

ARLINGTON, Texas (Interstat) — The Houston Astros visit the Texas Rangers on Monday at Globe Life Park, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT under a forecast of rain and 70 degrees.

Houston (23-31) sends right-hander Tatsuya Imai (1-2) to the mound. Texas (24-27) counters with right-hander Nathan Eovaldi.

Imai will look to snap a personal two-game skid. The Astros enter on a three-game winning streak after an 8-5 victory Sunday at the Chicago Cubs.

Nick Allen has been Houston’s hottest hitter. In Sunday’s win, Allen went 3 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs, raising his average in the last week. Over his past seven games, he is batting .375 (6 for 16) with two homers. Allen went 1 for 2 in a loss to Texas on May 17.

Eovaldi starts for the Rangers after a quality outing Saturday at the Los Angeles Angels, allowing three earned runs over seven innings with six strikeouts in a 2-5 loss. He previously beat Houston on May 17, tossing seven scoreless innings with eight strikeouts in an 8-0 win. In four starts this month, Eovaldi has a 1.80 ERA with 29 strikeouts over 28 innings.

The Rangers have dropped three of their last four games after a 5-2 loss Saturday to the Angels. Kyle Higashioka homered in that game.

These division rivals met in Houston last week, with Texas winning two of three. The Rangers won the series opener 8-0 on May 17 before the Astros took the final two games 4-1 and 2-0.

The Interstat game simulator projects a 5-4 Houston victory. Texas is a -1.5 favorite on the run line. The over/under is 8.5 total runs.

The series continues with games Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at Globe Life Park.