Astros at Rangers
Gerrit Cole aims to win his fifth consecutive decision when the Houston Astros open a four-game series against the host Texas Rangers on Thursday. The right-hander is unbeaten over his last seven turns since suffering his lone setback of the season against the Los Angeles Angels on April 23.
Cole was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates in the offseason and got his tenure with Houston off to a good start when he gave up one run and two hits and struck out 11 over seven innings in a win over the Rangers on April 1. He will look to help the Astros win their second straight contest after their three-game slide was extinguished with Wednesday's 7-5 victory over the Seattle Mariners. Texas has won five of its last eight games and scored 15 runs in a two-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics. Infielder Jurickson Profar was the star of Wednesday's 8-2 victory as he went deep twice for his first career multi-homer outing and drove in a career-best five runs.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Gerrit Cole (6-1, 2.20 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Cole Hamels (3-5, 3.63)
Cole ranks second in the majors with 116 strikeouts and has allowed 48 hits while holding opponents to a .171 average. The 27-year-old has given up three runs or fewer in all 12 starts but has allowed six homers over his last four outings after serving up three over his first eight. Cole, who is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in three career starts against Texas, received a no-decision against the Rangers on April 13 when he allowed two runs and three hits and fanned 14 in seven innings.
Hamels has allowed two runs or fewer in six of his past seven starts but is 2-2 during the stretch. The 34-year-old has served up six homers over his last three turns, including two solo shots while allowing two runs and five hits over seven innings in a no-decision against the Los Angeles Angels in his last turn. Hamels allowed one hit over six shutout innings while beating the Astros on May 11 and is 1-1 with a 2.55 ERA in three starts against Houston this season and 8-5 with a 3.95 ERA in 19 career outings.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Astros have won six of this season's 10 meetings.
2. Houston activated RF Josh Reddick (knee infection) - he went 1-for-4 on Wednesday - and optioned INF J.D. Davis to Triple-A Fresno.
3. Texas SS Elvis Andrus (elbow) has been cleared to participate in batting practice and could begin a rehab stint as soon as Monday.