As the calendar turns from July to August, the Texas Rangers continue to have the opportunity to solidify themselves at the top of the American League West standings once again.

On Friday night, Texas will open a huge three-game series on the road against the rival Houston Astros.

Coming into the series, the Rangers hold a half-game division lead over the Astros in the AL West.

First pitch on Friday night is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. CT at what is now known as Daikin Park in Houston.

Tuning into tonight’s game will be a little different. All the action will be on Apple TV as part of their national package of select Friday night games across the league.

On the radio side, things will remain unchanged as 105.3 The Fan will still have the call in the DFW area.

After having his regular start day pushed back, Nathan Eovaldi will take the mound for Texas in the series opener.

Eovaldi comes into play at 10-8 with a 4.05 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, and 130 strikeouts in 122.1 innings this season.

In his last start against the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field on Saturday, Eovaldi turned in one of his better outings of the season, going seven innings and allowing just one run in what ended up as a 7-1 Texas win.

On the other side, the Rangers will have the tall task of facing Astros ace Hunter Brown, who will be making just his 10th start of the season.

Brown enters play with a 2-1 record, a 3.45 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts in 47 innings this season.

Texas has faced Brown once already this season, back on July 10th at the Globe, when they put up three runs against him in his six innings of work. Texas would go on to win that game 7-3.

Prior to Friday’s game, the Rangers are expected to activate star shortstop Corey Seager from the Injured List.

Seager has missed the last 23 games with a back injury. Earlier this week, the two-time World Series MVP played in a pair of rehab games with Double-A Frisco.

With a win, Texas would push back to a pair of games above .500 with a 56-54 record and also expand its AL West lead to at least a game and a half. With a loss, the Rangers would be back at .500 and in second place in the division.

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