Houston @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 4, 2013 ) Tampa Bay 7, Houston 5

The schedule granted the Tampa Bay Rays a stretch of 14 games against teams under .500 before the All-Star break and they are making the best of it. The Rays will look to extend their season-best winning streak to nine when the Houston Astros visit for the opener of a three-game series Friday. Tampa Bay won three of four at Houston to start its run against struggling teams before sweeping three from the Chicago White Sox and four from the Minnesota Twins.

Rays manager Joe Maddon rested center fielder Desmond Jennings, who was 8-for-18 in the recent Houston series, during the 4-3 victory over the Twins on Thursday. The Astros had the day off following a pair of losses at St. Louis and are 3-12 in the last 15. Brett Wallace was 4-for-8 with two homers against Tampa Bay last week and has 11 RBIs in 13 games since being recalled from the minors.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet (Houston), SunSports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Jarred Cosart (NR) vs. Rays LH David Price (3-4, 4.18 ERA)

Cosart, acquired in a package of prospects from the Philadelphia Phillies for Hunter Pence at the trade deadline in 2011, makes his major-league debut. The 23-year-old was 7-4 with a 3.29 ERA in 18 appearances (17 starts) with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Cosart, a 38th-round selection by the Phillies in 2008, has 93 strikeouts and 50 walks over 93 innings this season.

Price has been outstanding since returning from a strained left triceps, yielding one run over 16 innings in two victories. The 2012 American League Cy Young winner gave up 11 hits combined, struck out 15 and did not walk a batter in those starts. Price shut out Houston on three hits over seven innings July 2 and is 2-0 lifetime against the Astros with a 3.75 ERA in two career starts

WALK-OFFS

1. Tampa Bay rookie RF Wil Myers was 5-for-9 the last two games after being rested for the first time in his major-league career.

2. Houston 2B Jose Altuve has 99 hits - 22 more than anyone else on the team.

3. Rays 3B Evan Longoria’s home run Thursday gave him 340 career extra-base hits, tying B.J. Upton for second on the club’s all-time list.

PREDICTION: Rays 5, Astros 1