Astros host the Cardinals to begin 3-game series

St. Louis Cardinals (10-8, fourth in the NL Central) vs. Houston Astros (8-12, fourth in the AL West)

Houston; Friday, 8:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Cardinals: Kyle Leahy (1-2, 5.14 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, seven strikeouts); Astros: Peter Lambert (0-0)

LINE: Astros -139, Cardinals +117; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros open a three-game series at home against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.

Houston has an 8-12 record overall and a 7-3 record at home. The Astros have hit 21 total home runs to rank fifth in the AL.

St. Louis has a 3-3 record on the road and a 10-8 record overall. The Cardinals are fifth in the NL with 20 total home runs, averaging 1.1 per game.

Friday's game is the first meeting between these teams this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Yordan Alvarez has a .328 batting average to lead the Astros, and has six doubles and seven home runs. Jose Altuve is 12 for 42 with two RBIs over the past 10 games.

Alec Burleson has three doubles, two home runs and 14 RBIs while hitting .279 for the Cardinals. Jordan Walker is 14 for 42 with a double and six home runs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Astros: 2-8, .245 batting average, 6.61 ERA, outscored by 25 runs

Cardinals: 6-4, .239 batting average, 4.75 ERA, outscored by nine runs

INJURIES: Astros: Cody Bolton: 15-Day IL (back), Jeremy Pena: 10-Day IL (knee), Tatsuya Imai: 15-Day IL (arm), : 10-Day IL (oblique), : 60-Day IL (elbow), : 15-Day IL (shoulder), : 15-Day IL (shoulder), : 60-Day IL (elbow), : 60-Day IL (elbow), : 15-Day IL (elbow), : 10-Day IL (elbow), : 15-Day IL (oblique), : 15-Day IL (biceps)