New York Yankees (77-62, second in the AL East) vs. Houston Astros (77-63, first in the AL West)
Houston; Thursday, 7:40 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Yankees: Carlos Rodon (15-7, 3.18 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 177 strikeouts); Astros: Cristian Javier (1-1, 3.38 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 16 strikeouts)
BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros take on the New York Yankees after Yordan Alvarez had four hits against the Yankees on Wednesday.
Houston is 77-63 overall and 43-31 at home. Astros pitchers have a collective 3.87 ERA, which ranks fourth in the AL.
New York has a 36-34 record in road games and a 77-62 record overall. The Yankees have the 10th-best team batting average in MLB play at .251.
The teams play Thursday for the sixth time this season. The Astros are up 3-2 in the season series.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jose Altuve has 21 doubles, a triple, 24 home runs and 69 RBIs for the Astros. Jesus Sanchez is 13 for 33 with three doubles, two home runs and five RBIs over the past 10 games.
Aaron Judge leads the Yankees with a .323 batting average, and has 28 doubles, two triples, 43 home runs, 97 walks and 97 RBIs. Cody Bellinger is 14 for 40 with three home runs and 11 RBIs over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Astros: 5-5, .241 batting average, 3.24 ERA, outscored by five runs
Yankees: 8-2, .263 batting average, 2.60 ERA, outscored opponents by 43 runs
INJURIES: Astros: Spencer Arrighetti: 15-Day IL (elbow), John Rooney: 60-Day IL (concussion / nasal), Brendan Rodgers: 60-Day IL (oblique), Pedro Leon: 60-Day IL (knee), Brandon Walter: 60-Day IL (elbow), Bennett Sousa: 15-Day IL (elbow), Josh Hader: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Isaac Paredes: 60-Day IL (hamstring), Jake Meyers: 10-Day IL (calf), Zach Dezenzo: 60-Day IL (hand), Ronel Blanco: 60-Day IL (elbow), Hayden Wesneski: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Yankees: Brent Headrick: 15-Day IL (forearm), Austin Slater: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Jonathan Loaisiga: 15-Day IL (back), Clarke Schmidt: 60-Day IL (forearm), Oswaldo Cabrera: 60-Day IL (ankle), Jake Cousins: 60-Day IL (elbow), Gerrit Cole: 60-Day IL (elbow)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Associated Press
