The Houston Astros (21-20) host the Kansas City Royals (25-19) on Wednesday night at Daikin Park in the rubber match of a three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET.

The series is tied 1-1, with both teams trading wins and showcasing the depth that’s kept them competitive early in the season. This will be the sixth meeting between the clubs this year, with Kansas City holding a slight edge in the season series, 3-2.

Pitching matchup

Houston hands the ball to rookie left-hander Colton Gordon, who is set to make his MLB debut. The 26-year-old will look to keep a red-hot Royals lineup in check while giving the Astros a glimpse of their pitching future.

Kansas City counters with veteran right-hander Michael Lorenzen (3-3, 3.57 ERA), who has quietly anchored the Royals’ rotation. Lorenzen has struck out 40 batters over 45.1 innings and enters the game with a 1.26 WHIP.

Team trends

Houston enters the night just above .500 and has played well at home (14-9), backed by an offense that ranks 10th in the AL with a .379 slugging percentage. The Astros have hit .289 as a team over their last 10 games and have outscored opponents by 11 runs during that stretch.

Kansas City, meanwhile, continues to surprise in the AL Central. The Royals have gone 7-3 over their last 10 games with a solid 2.74 team ERA and an equally impressive .277 team batting average in that span. However, they’re under .500 on the road at 9-12.

Players to watch

For the Astros, Jake Meyers has been a steady presence at the plate, leading the team with a .308 average and contributing across the board. Jeremy Peña has also heated up recently, batting .349 over his last 10 games with a pair of home runs and nine RBIs.

The Royals continue to ride the bat of Bobby Witt Jr., who’s slashing .312 with 17 doubles and five homers. Kyle Isbel has quietly been effective too, hitting .357 over his last 10 games with extra-base pop.

Betting odds

According to BetMGM, the Astros are favored at -139 on the moneyline, with the Royals at +118. The over/under is set at 8 runs.

With both teams playing well and the series on the line, Wednesday night’s matchup offers a compelling mix of youth, momentum, and early-season implications for two surging squads.

Here's a sneak peek at Wednesday night's lineup.

Nothing too surprising going on here. Zach Dezenzo is getting the start over Cam Smith in right field. Victor Caratini will be the only left-handed bat (switch hitter) against Lorenzen, as he'll be catching Gordon in his big league debut, with Yainer Diaz in the DH spot. Mauricio Dubon will be playing second base, with Brendan Rodgers getting the night off.

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