It has been a lost season for the Texas Rangers and one of much underachievement for the Houston Astros, but both will look to finish the regular season strong as they open up a series in Arlington on Thursday.

The Rangers’ bright spot has been Thursday’s starter Lance Lynn. The team is 7-5 when he starts and entered Tuesday 12-30 in all other games. Lynn has gone six innings or more in 11 of his 12 starts with a 2.53 ERA, and allowed three earned runs or fewer in 11 starts, as well.

The Astros counter with rising rookie Cristian Javier, who has given up 10 home runs in his 48 ²/₃ innings. But he has managed a 3.33 ERA despite the hard contact, as he’s allowing only 5.7 hits per nine innings.

Houston entered Wednesday having scored four runs or fewer in 12 of its past 15 games and the Rangers were averaging the fewest runs per game of any team in the American League.

With both teams struggling to plate runs and a pair of solid starters, it should make for a big pitchers’ duel in Texas on Thursday.

The Play: Astros-Rangers total, Under 8 runs.