Rangers host the Cubs to begin 3-game series

Chicago Cubs (26-12, first in the NL Central) vs. Texas Rangers (17-20, third in the AL West)

Arlington, Texas; Friday, 8:05 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Cubs: Ben Brown (1-1, 2.10 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 24 strikeouts); Rangers: Kumar Rocker (1-3, 4.71 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 24 strikeouts)

LINE: Cubs -137, Rangers +116; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Texas Rangers host the Chicago Cubs on Friday to open a three-game series.

Texas is 7-8 at home and 17-20 overall. The Rangers have a 9-5 record in games when they did not allow a home run.

Chicago has an 8-7 record on the road and a 26-12 record overall. Cubs hitters have a collective .353 on-base percentage, the highest percentage in the NL.

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

TOP PERFORMERS: Josh Jung has 12 doubles, four home runs and 19 RBI for the Rangers. Ezequiel Duran is 10 for 29 with three doubles, a triple, a home run and five RBI over the past 10 games.

Nico Hoerner has 11 doubles, four home runs and 28 RBI for the Cubs. Seiya Suzuki is 12 for 38 with two doubles, three home runs and seven RBI over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rangers: 3-7, .226 batting average, 4.40 ERA, outscored by 15 runs

Cubs: 9-1, .244 batting average, 3.76 ERA, outscored opponents by 19 runs

INJURIES: Rangers: Carter Baumler: 15-Day IL (ribs), Robert Garcia: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Josh Smith: 10-Day IL (glute), Wyatt Langford: 10-Day IL (forearm), Cody Freeman: 10-Day IL (back ), Chris Martin: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Cody Bradford: 60-Day IL (elbow), Luis Curvelo: 15-Day IL (biceps), Jordan Montgomery: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Cubs: Ethan Roberts: 15-Day IL (finger), Matthew Boyd: 15-Day IL (knee), Jordan Wicks: 15-Day IL (forearm), Riley Martin: 15-Day IL (elbow), Hunter Harvey: 15-Day IL (tricep), Porter Hodge: 60-Day IL (elbow), Caleb Thielbar: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Shelby Miller: 60-Day IL (elbow), Justin Steele: 60-Day IL (elbow), Christopher Austin: 60-Day IL (knee), Cade Horton: 60-Day IL (forearm)

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