Texas Rangers (41-38) at Houston Astros (28-51) Game 1 of 3 (7:05 pm CT)

Tonight, the Texas Rangers travel to Minute Maid Park in hopes of taking another Lone Star Series against the Houston Astros. While interleague play hasn’t been as favorable to the Rangers this year as it was last year, they are still ahead when it comes to their in-state rival, who they have defeated in 12 of their previous 15 meetings.

Last time these two teams met was in Arlington when the Rangers won the first two of three but were unable to pull through with that final win for a sweep. They will head into this series hoping to not just win the series but perform a sweep of the Astros just as they have in the last two series help at Minute Maid Park.

The two pitchers that start tonight faced off last Tuesday in Arlington. Here is a look at your matchups.

Pitching Matchups

The Astros will start things off with Jordan Lyles. He is 0-2 with an earned run average of 4.20. Lyles last pitched against the Rangers at Arlington in which he lasted seven innings allowing three runs on seven hits. Tonight will be his sixth start this season and in all of his five outings this year, he has allowed three or fewer runs in four of them.

The Rangers will counter with ace lefty C.J. Wilson. Wilson enters this game with a 7-3 record and a 3.17 ERA. Last time out was against the Astros in a game that Wilson allowed four earned runs over 11 wins in 6.2 winnings. He ended with a no decision in the 5-4 Rangers victory. Aside from that outing, he has allowed no more than three run in each of his previous seven outingss.

Pitchers vs. Hitters

RHP Jordan Lyles: Michael Young and Nelson Cruz both hit homers last time against Lyles. Each Ranger that went to the plate at least got one hit against Lyles except for Adrian Beltre, Mitch Moreland and Elvis Andrus.

LHP CJ Wilson: Carlos Lee is 5-for-11 with two RBIs, Jason Michaels is 4-for-11 with a double, triple, homer and two RBIs and Hunter Pence and Jeff Keppinger are both 4-for-10 against Wilson. Michael Bourn is 4-for-7 and Jason Bourgeois is 5-for-7. Neither Brett Wallace or Carlos Corporan have safely hit against C.J. In three at-bats each.