Hearn expected to start as Rangers host the Astros

Updated Aug. 29, 2021 3:20 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Houston Astros (77-52, first in the AL West) vs. Texas Rangers (44-85, fifth in the AL West)

Arlington, Texas; Sunday, 2:35 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Astros: Zack Greinke (11-4, 3.41 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 109 strikeouts) Rangers: Taylor Hearn (3-4, 3.82 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 71 strikeouts)

LINE: Rangers +189, Astros -229; over/under is 9 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros travel to play the Texas Rangers on Sunday.

The Rangers are 28-36 in home games in 2020. The Texas pitching staff averages 7.9 strikeouts per nine innings, Jordan Lyles leads them with a mark of 7.2.

The Astros have gone 36-27 away from home. Houston has a team on-base percentage of .337, led by Yuli Gurriel with a mark of .380.

The Astros won the last meeting 5-2. Framber Valdez recorded his ninth victory and Yordan Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI for Houston. Kolby Allard took his 11th loss for Texas.

TOP PERFORMERS: Adolis Garcia leads the Rangers with 50 extra base hits and is batting .248.

Alvarez leads the Astros with 53 extra base hits and 87 RBIs.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rangers: 2-8, .277 batting average, 5.20 ERA, outscored by 13 runs

Astros: 7-3, .296 batting average, 3.10 ERA, outscored opponents by 25 runs

INJURIES: Rangers: Hunter Wood: (elbow), Kohei Arihara: (finger), Ronald Guzman: (knee), Brock Holt: (covid-19), Andy Ibanez: (hamstring), Willie Calhoun: (forearm), Charlie Culberson: (covid-19), Eli White: (elbow), Drew Anderson: (covid-19), Joe Barlow: (finger), Jose Leclerc: (elbow), Matt Bush: (elbow), Kyle Cody: (shoulder), Dane Dunning: (covid-19), Mike Foltynewicz: (covid-19), Jonathan Hernandez: (elbow), Spencer Howard: (covid-19), John King: (shoulder), Jonah Heim: (covid-19).

Astros: Justin Verlander: (elbow), Jose Urquidy: (arm), Andre Scrubb: (shoulder), Enoli Paredes: (shoulder), Rafael Montero: (shoulder), Tyler Ivey: (undisclosed), Kent Emanuel: (elbow), Pedro Baez: (shoulder), Chas McCormick: (hand).

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