Rays host the Astros in first of 3-game series

Houston Astros (75-72, first in the AL West) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (87-59, first in the AL East)

St. Petersburg, Florida; Friday, 7:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Astros: Miguel Ullola (0-0, 3.86 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 10 strikeouts); Rays: Drew Rasmussen (14-5, 2.88 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 156 strikeouts)

LINE: Rays -177, Astros +144; over/under is 7 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Tampa Bay Rays host the Houston Astros to start a three-game series.

Tampa Bay is 87-59 overall and 47-25 in home games. The Rays have the fifth-ranked team slugging percentage in the AL at .404.

Houston has a 75-72 record overall and a 38-34 record in road games. The Astros are second in the AL with 193 total home runs, averaging 1.3 per game.

The teams meet Friday for the fourth time this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Junior Caminero leads the Rays with 39 home runs while slugging .530. Richie Palacios is 6 for 33 with four home runs and six RBI over the last 10 games.

Yordan Alvarez leads the Astros with 69 extra base hits (30 doubles, a triple and 38 home runs). Cam Smith is 10 for 31 with a double, two triples, three home runs and six RBI over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rays: 5-5, .261 batting average, 3.99 ERA, outscored opponents by two runs

Astros: 6-4, .239 batting average, 3.20 ERA, outscored opponents by three runs

INJURIES: Rays: Jake Fraley: 60-Day IL (groin), Jon Heasley: 60-Day IL (elbow), Edwin Uceta: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Taylor Walls: 10-Day IL (hip), Garrett Cleavinger: 15-Day IL (forearm), Manuel Rodriguez: 15-Day IL (back), Shane McClanahan: 15-Day IL (forearm), Ben Williamson: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Gavin Lux: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Ryan Pepiot: 60-Day IL (hip)

Astros: Mike Burrows: 60-Day IL (elbow), Steven Okert: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Brice Matthews: 60-Day IL (knee), Carlos Correa: 60-Day IL (ankle), Brandon Walter: 60-Day IL (elbow)

------

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.