Astros, Rangers gear up for midseason Lone Star Series

The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros will open a highly anticipated American League West showdown on Friday night in Arlington, Texas.

The Rangers pushed back veteran right-hander Jon Gray to be available for the opener of the four-game series. The Astros are expected to start right-hander RonelBlanco.

First-place Texas owns a five-game lead over second-place Houston in the division, but the season is just at the halfwa