Texas Rangers (79-71, third in the AL West) vs. Houston Astros (81-69, second in the AL West)

Houston; Monday, 8:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Rangers: Jack Leiter (9-8, 3.81 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 130 strikeouts); Astros: Jason Alexander (4-1, 4.18 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 55 strikeouts)

BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros host the Texas Rangers to start a three-game series.

Houston is 43-32 in home games and 81-69 overall. The Astros have the seventh-best team batting average in MLB play at .252.

Texas has a 32-43 record in road games and a 79-71 record overall. Rangers pitchers have a collective 3.42 ERA, which leads the AL.

The teams square off Monday for the 11th time this season. The Rangers lead the season series 6-4.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jose Altuve leads the Astros with 25 home runs while sluggin

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