Astros open 3-game home series against Orioles

Baltimore Orioles (49-25, second in AL East) vs. Houston Astros (35-40, second in AL West)

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

PITCHING PROBABLES: Orioles: Grayson Rodriguez (8-2, 3.20 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 77 strikeouts); Astros: Jake Bloss (0-0)

: LINE Orioles -159, Astros +133; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros begin a three-game home series Friday against the Baltimore Orioles.

Houston is 19-19 at home and 35-40 overall. Astros hitters have a collective .415 slugging percentage to rank sixth in the majors.

Baltimore is 24-11 on the road and 49-25 overall. Orioles pitchers have a collective ERA of 3.14, which ranks second in the majors.

Friday’s match is the first meeting of the season between the two teams.

TOP PERFORMERS: Alex Bregman has 12 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 33 RBIs for the Astros. Yordan Alvarez is 14-for-38 with four doubles, a triple and three home runs over the last 10 games.

Adley Rutschman has 10 doubles, 14 homers and 53 RBIs while hitting .293 for the Orioles. Gunnar Henderson is 16-for-44 with six doubles and two home runs over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Astros: 5-5, .265 batting average, 3.82 ERA, led by one run

Orioles: 7-3, .273 batting average, 2.74 ERA, opponents scored by 24 runs

INJURIES: Astros: Victor Caratini: Everyday (leg), Justin Verlander: 15-day IL (neck), Cristian Javier: 60-day IL (forearm), Kyle Tucker: 10-day IL (shin), Jose Urquidy: 60-day IL (forearm), Oliver Ortega: 60 day IL (elbow), Bennett Sousa: 60 day IL (shoulder), Penn Murfee: 60 day IL (elbow), Luis Garcia: 60 day IL (elbow), Lance McCullers Jr. : 60 day IL (elbow), Kendall Graveman: 60 day IL (elbow)

Orioles: Tyler Wells: 60-day IL (elbow), Kyle Bradish: 15-day IL (ucl sprain), John Means: 60-day IL (elbow), Danny Coulombe: 15-day IL (elbow), Dean Kremer: IL 15 days (triceps), Felix Bautista: IL 60 days (elbow)

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