Battle for AL West lead takes center stage as Astros host Rangers

The signs of a revival are present for the Houston Astros in ways beyond their steady climb back to .500.

With their 7-4 road win over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday, the Astros finally evened their season record following a 20-31 start that contributed to their falling as many as six games behind in the American League West. When the Astros host the Texas Rangers on Friday, they will have an opportunity to claim the top spot in their division for the first time since April 6.

The three-game sweep of the Angels was the fourth of the season for the Astros, who have won eight of nine games and 28 of 47 games on the road since a 1-9 road trip early in the campaign. Since tumbling to a season-low 11 games under .500, Houston is 35-24.

"I'm very proud of how hungry we are out there," Astros catcher Yainer Diaz said through an interpreter following his four-hit game on Wednesday. "Sometimes results are not how we want, but you have to keep going back out there. I'm very proud of how things are turning out for us."

The Astros welcomed back right-hander Hayden Wesneski (elbow) from a 15-month stint on the injured list on Wednesday and, with the Rangers' 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays to conclude a three-game series on Thursday, moved within a half-game of Texas in the AL West. Ascension seemed improbable when injuries decimated the Astros' rotation. But now that the first step back into contention is complete, they have a legitimate jumping-off point to continue their climb up the standings.

Right-hander Hunter Brown (2-1, 3.45 ERA) will start the series opener for the Astros on Friday. He produced his best start since his return from a 10-week stint on the IL last Saturday at the Chicago White Sox. He threw seven shutout innings, allowed two hits and recorded seven strikeouts in a 4-1 victory. Brown was 0-1 with a 5.22 ERA in his first six starts off the IL.

Brown has a 4-4 record with a 3.00 ERA across 10 career starts against the Rangers. He did not factor into the decision in a 7-3 loss at Texas on July 10 after allowing three runs on four hits and five walks with four strikeouts over six innings.

Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (10-8, 4.05) has the starting assignment for Texas. He is tied for second in the AL in victories and stands 11th with 130 strikeouts, but his 22 home runs allowed are the second-most in the league and one shy of his career high.

Eovaldi has nine quality starts in his last 14 outings.

Eovaldi is 5-6 with a 3.66 ERA in 16 career starts against the Astros, including a 1-1 record and 3.21 ERA in two starts this season. The Rangers have won his past three starts in Houston.

After mustering only six runs in the three-game series against the Rays, Texas will again lean on its rotation in Houston, with Jacob deGrom and Kumar Rocker following Eovaldi in the series.

"We feel good with those guys going," Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. "You always like deGrom and Evo going the first two games of a series, and then Rocker has been pitching really well. It should be an exciting series this weekend, and we're looking forward to getting there."

--Field Level Media