Rangers @ Rays

Who will WIN this matchup?

Texas Rangers (45-36)

@ Tampa Bay Rays (46-35)

Starting Pitchers:

Lynn (TEX): 9-4; 4.32 ERA

Chirinos (TB) 7-3; 3.00 ERA

Last 10 Games Played:

Texas Rangers: 7-3

Tampa Bay Rays: 3-7

Current odds:

Texas Rangers: (+120)

Tampa Bay Rays: (-130)

• The Texas Rangers are closer to first place in the American League West than they have been in more than a month and look to extend their winning streak to six when they visit the road-weary Tampa Bay Rays for the opener of a three-game series Friday. Joey Gallo belted two homers, giving him four in his last five contests, to knock off Detroit 3-1 on Thursday afternoon as the Rangers moved within 4 1/2 games of first-place Houston in the division. Elvis Andrus is 9-for-21 with three runs scored during a five-game hitting streak for Texas (45-36), which is 17-9 in June as it hit the midway point of the season Thursday and hopes rebound after losing five of six to Tampa Bay last year. The Rangers will send veteran Lance Lynn to the mound for the series opener and the Rays are hoping for some length from expected starter Yonny Chirinos after they used nine pitchers during an 18-inning victory at Minnesota on Thursday.

• Tampa Bay ended a disappointing 3-7 road trip with a 5-2 victory against the AL Central-leading Twins after allowing no runs over the final 17 innings to put smiles on faces for the plane ride home. Shortstop Willy Adames was one of the lone bright spots on the trip for the Rays, going 11-for-36 with three homers to go along with five RBIs, and had a key run-scoring single in the 18th on Thursday.

• Lynn has lost only once in his last eight trips to the mound, but earned a win with the aid of his offense after giving up five runs over seven innings against the Chicago White Sox. The 32-year-old Ole Miss product has completed at least six innings in his last 11 starts and is 3-0 with a 3.62 ERA this month. Mike Zunino has homered against Lynn, who is 0-1 with a 4.87 ERA in four career appearances (three starts) versus Tampa Bay.

• Chirinos has strung together four straight quality starts, but managed just one victory in that stretch and none in the past three outings. The 25-year-old Venezuela native allowed two runs on six hits over six innings of a no-decision Saturday at Oakland in a 4-2 setback. Shin-Soo Choo has a solo homer, a sacrifice fly and two walks versus Chirinos, who gave up six runs across 5 2/3 innings in a loss against Texas last season.

• The Rays activated INF Yandy Diaz from the 10-day injured list Thursday and knocked in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly.

• Texas OF Willie Calhoun saw his seven-game hitting streak end Thursday, but has reached base in all 15 contests in the majors this year.

• Tampa Bay CF Kevin Kiermaier left Thursday’s game in the middle of the second inning as a precaution with calf tightness.