GAME PREVIEW

ARLINGTON, Texas (Interstat) — The Houston Astros visit the Texas Rangers on Friday night at Globe Life Park in a matchup of teams hovering around .500 late in the season.

Houston (46-49) sits third in the American League West, three games behind the second-place Rangers (46-46). Texas is 8-7 in its last 15 games but lost 13-1 to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday in its most recent outing.

The Astros dropped their series finale against the Washington Nationals 8-2 on Wednesday, salvaging one win in the three-game set. Houston reliever Alimber Santa pitched two scoreless innings in that loss, allowing one hit. Over his last four appearances, Santa has surrendered one earned run in 5 1/3 innings, striking out one.

Texas left-hander Ben Peoples is expected to be a key bullpen arm. Peoples threw a scoreless inning with one strikeout Wednesday against the Angels and has not allowed an earned run in three innings across his last two outings.

The teams split their season series 3-3 through six meetings. Houston won three of four in Arlington from May 25-28, outscoring the Rangers 21-11 in that series. Texas took two of three in Houston from May 15-17, including an 8-0 shutout.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 6-5 Texas victory.

Houston’s offense has scuffled recently, scoring two runs or fewer in three of its last four games. The Astros are 7-11 in July.

Texas has won five of eight at home during that stretch. The Rangers’ Kyle Higashioka homered and drove in a run in Wednesday’s loss.

Both teams open a three-game set Friday before Houston returns home to host Baltimore on July 17. Texas travels to Atlanta on the same date.