Rays take win streak into matchup with the Astros

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Friday, July 3, 2026 8:03AM

Tampa Bay Rays (51-33, first in the AL East) vs. Houston Astros (43-46, third in the AL West)

Houston; Friday, 8:15 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Rays: Nick Martinez (7-2, 2.66 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 58 strikeouts); Astros: Spencer Arrighetti (7-4, 4.00 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 75 strikeouts)

LINE: Astros -111, Rays -111; over/under is 8 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Tampa Bay Rays aim to keep their seven-game win streak alive when they visit the Houston Astros.

Houston is 43-46 overall and 21-23 at home. The Astros have the seventh-ranked team batting average in the AL at .242.

Tampa Bay has a 51-33 record overall and a 20-21 record on the road. The Rays have the best team batting average in the AL at .261.

Friday's game is the first time these teams meet this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Yordan Alvarez has 16 doubles and 26 home runs for the Astros. Jeremy Pena is 13 for 36 with a double and two home runs over the last 10 games.

Junior Caminero has 12 doubles, 24 home runs and 54 RBI for the Rays. Cedric Mullins is 12 for 37 with four home runs and eight RBI over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Astros: 6-4, .233 batting average, 4.25 ERA, outscored by five runs

Rays: 8-2, .296 batting average, 2.30 ERA, outscored opponents by 29 runs

INJURIES: Astros: Christian Walker: day-to-day (back), Raynel Delgado: day-to-day (finger), Kai-Wei Teng: 15-Day IL (knee), Jeremy Pena: 10-Day IL (calf), Braden Shewmake: 10-Day IL (groin), Bennett Sousa: 15-Day IL (elbow), LaMonte Wade: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Cristian Javier: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Lance McCullers: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Carlos Correa: 60-Day IL (ankle), Brandon Walter: 60-Day IL (elbow), Ronel Blanco: 60-Day IL (elbow), Hayden Wesneski: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Rays: Jesse Scholtens: 15-Day IL (wrist), Steven Matz: 15-Day IL (ankle), Gavin Lux: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Steven Wilson: 60-Day IL (back), Manuel Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jon Heasley: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jake Fraley: 10-Day IL (groin), Ryan Pepiot: 60-Day IL (hip), Edwin Uceta: 60-Day IL (shoulder)

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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