ARLINGTON, Texas (Interstat) — The Cleveland Guardians visit the Texas Rangers on Friday night at Globe Life Park, with first pitch set for 8:05 p.m. EDT under a forecast of 83 degrees and rain.

Cleveland (36-28) will start left-hander Parker Messick (6-1, 3.12 ERA), who has been one of the American League’s most consistent arms this season. Messick has won his last three decisions and enters with a 1.08 WHIP over 72 innings. Texas (30-32) has not announced a probable starter for the opener of this three-game series.

The Guardians are coming off a 2-1 loss Thursday at the New York Yankees, a game in which right-hander Slade Cecconi worked six innings of four-hit, one-run ball with four strikeouts. Cecconi, who will be a player to watch for Cleveland, has been sharp recently: In his last five outings, he has a 2.70 ERA across 26⅔ innings, with 23 strikeouts and five walks. He earned wins against Boston and Detroit during that stretch.

Texas dropped a 5-3 decision Wednesday at St. Louis, despite a scoreless relief appearance from left-hander Robby Ahlstrom (1⅓ innings, no hits, two strikeouts). Ahlstrom, who has a 4.15 ERA overall, will be a key arm out of the Rangers’ bullpen as they try to snap a two-game skid. The Rangers have won four of their last six overall, including a series victory over Kansas City at home last weekend.

The simulation engine at Interstat projects a 5-4 victory for Texas, but oddsmakers have installed Cleveland as a -1.5 favorite on the run line. The over/under is set at 7 runs.

Cleveland holds a slight edge in the season series after taking two of three from Texas earlier this year. The Guardians are 18-14 on the road, while the Rangers are 16-15 at home.

Following Friday’s game, the teams play Saturday and Sunday before Cleveland returns home to host the Yankees. Texas then travels to Kansas City for a three-game set.

Notes: Cleveland’s Kumar Rocker (2-5) is also listed as a probable pitcher, but manager Stephen Vogt has not confirmed if Rocker will be used in relief or as a bulk-innings option behind Messick. ... Rangers slugger Joc Pederson, who drove in two runs Wednesday, is 8-for-25 (.320) with two homers in his last seven games. ... The Guardians have won 10 of their last 14 games.