Braves host the Rangers to start 3-game series

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Texas Rangers (49-47, first in the AL West) vs. Atlanta Braves (55-40, first in the NL East)

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

PITCHING PROBABLES: Rangers: Cal Quantrill (3-1, 3.11 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 28 strikeouts); Braves: Chris Sale (9-6, 2.20 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 117 strikeouts)

LINE: Braves -216, Rangers +174; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Braves host the Texas Rangers to begin a three-game series.

Atlanta has a 27-18 record at home and a 55-40 record overall. Braves hitters are batting a collective .246, the 10th-best team batting average in MLB play.

Texas is 25-25 on the road and 49-47 overall. The Rangers have a 17-10 record in games decided by one run.

The teams meet Friday for the first time this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Ozzie Albies has 21 doubles, 14 home runs and 51 RBIs while hitting .267 for the Braves. Michael Harris II is 15 for 47 with three doubles and two home runs over the past 10 games.

Jake Burger leads the Rangers with 16 home runs while slugging .423. Ezequiel Duran is 11 for 37 with four home runs and nine RBIs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Braves: 5-5, .243 batting average, 4.60 ERA, outscored opponents by eight runs

Rangers: 5-5, .257 batting average, 5.87 ERA, outscored by 12 runs

INJURIES: Braves: Ha-Seong Kim: 10-Day IL (finger), Mike Yastrzemski: 10-Day IL (elbow), Martin Perez: 15-Day IL (forearm), Spencer Strider: 60-Day IL (elbow), Robert Suarez: 15-Day IL (elbow), Ronald Acuna Jr.: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Sean Murphy: 60-Day IL (finger), Spencer Schwellenbach: 60-Day IL (elbow), AJ Smith-Shawver: 60-Day IL (elbow), Joe Jimenez: 60-Day IL (knee), Joey Wentz: 60-Day IL (knee)

Rangers: Cody Freeman: 10-Day IL (disc), Jacob deGrom: day-to-day (glute), Chris Martin: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Jalen Beeks: 10-Day IL (back), Jack Leiter: 15-Day IL (ankle), Robert Garcia: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jakob Junis: 15-Day IL (hip), Jordan Montgomery: 60-Day IL (elbow), Carter Baumler: 60-Day IL (ribs), Danny Jansen: 10-Day IL (forearm), Cody Bradford: 60-Day IL (elbow), Corey Seager: 10-Day IL (back), Michael Helman: 60-Day IL (hand)

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