Braves begin 3-game series against the Astros

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Houston Astros (79-68, first in the AL West) vs. Atlanta Braves (65-81, fourth in the NL East)

Atlanta; Friday, 7:15 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Astros: TBD; Braves: Hurston Waldrep (4-0, 1.33 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 38 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -135, Braves +113; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Braves host the Houston Astros on Friday to open a three-game series.

Atlanta has a 65-81 record overall and a 35-37 record in home games. The Braves have a 19-34 record in games decided by one run.

Houston has a 79-68 record overall and a 36-36 record on the road. The Astros have the eighth-best team ERA in MLB play at 3.85.

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

TOP PERFORMERS: Michael Harris II has 22 doubles, six triples, 17 home runs and 79 RBIs for the Braves. Ozzie Albies is 12 for 39 with a double, a triple and three home runs over the past 10 games.

Yainer Diaz has 22 doubles, a triple, 19 home runs and 63 RBIs for the Astros. Carlos Correa is 13 for 44 with two doubles and three home runs over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Braves: 4-6, .215 batting average, 4.64 ERA, outscored by 20 runs

Astros: 4-6, .244 batting average, 4.10 ERA, outscored by two runs

INJURIES: Braves: Sean Murphy: 10-Day IL (hip), Austin Riley: 60-Day IL (abdominal), Aaron Bummer: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Grant Holmes: 60-Day IL (elbow), Spencer Schwellenbach: 60-Day IL (elbow), AJ Smith-Shawver: 60-Day IL (calf/elbow), Reynaldo Lopez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Joe Jimenez: 60-Day IL (knee)

Astros: Luis Garcia: 15-Day IL (elbow), Kaleb Ort: 15-Day IL (elbow), Spencer Arrighetti: 15-Day IL (elbow), John Rooney: 60-Day IL (concussion / nasal), Brendan Rodgers: 60-Day IL (oblique), Pedro Leon: 60-Day IL (knee), Brandon Walter: 60-Day IL (elbow), Bennett Sousa: 15-Day IL (elbow), Josh Hader: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Isaac Paredes: 60-Day IL (hamstring), Zach Dezenzo: 60-Day IL (hand), Ronel Blanco: 60-Day IL (elbow), Hayden Wesneski: 60-Day IL (elbow)

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