The Astros host the Tigers three times starting with tonight’s first pitch scheduled for 7:10 PM CST.
After posting a 3-3 record in their recently-concluded road-trip, the Astros host the Tigers three times starting tonight.
This is the second time this season that these two have faced off. Houston took two-of-three from May 10 through May 12, taking the rubber match by a 9-3 final score. Justin Verlander (2-1 3.38) was key in the victory, striking out eight over seven shutout two-hit innings. He walked two and got 61-of-95 offerings over the plate. All nine positions in the batting order collected at least one hit, while Kyle Tucker smacked his 13th home run of the season. Mauricio Dubón (four singles), Jake Meyers (three singles), Yordan Alvarez (single, double), Jon Singleton (two singles), Yainer Díaz (two singles) and Joey Loperfido (single, double) each finished with multiple hits for the good guys, who totaled 18 to Detroit’s six.
I thought we had a good plan heading into it, capitalize on mistakes, then realized early on there wasn’t going to be very many mistakes to capitalize on. — Spencer Torkelson, reflecting on Verlander
Although Houston holds a 48-37 edge in head-to-head play versus the Tigers, their pythagorean total sits at a somewhat more pedestrian 43-42. The resulting .545 winning percentage is Houston’s best against an AL Central opponent, and their fourth-best record overall.
Houston just completed a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants in 3Com Park. The Astros managed to take just the second game in the set to even the series before dropping the rubber match. In that middle contest, this past Tuesday, starting pitcher Ronel Blanco (6-2, 2.67) got the win, striking out eight over six innings of one-run, three-hit ball. Ryan Pressly collected his second save of the season with a perfect ninth, striking out a pair. Dubón led Houston’s offense with a pair of doubles, while Singleton pitched in with two singles.
He throws hard. He throws an assortment of breaking balls. Just enough fastballs to keep you off the breaking stuff. He’s got a 2.60 ERA right now. We just couldn’t solve him. We couldn’t make him work hard enough. He ends up throwing six innings, only one walk, eight strikeouts. It was just tough to square him up. — Bob Melvin, on Blanco.
The TIgers just finished a three-game home-set against the Washington Nationals, losing the first two before salvaging a 7-2 win going away. In Detroit’s lone victory, Justyn-Henry Malloy hit a homer (2) and a double, with three RBI to pace the Tigers. Andy Ibáñez (single, double), Mark Canha (two singles), and Ryan Kreidler (two singles) also finished with multiple hits for the Big Cats. Casey Mize started and earned no decision, holding the Nats to one run in 5 1⁄3 innings, Shelby Miller (4-4, 3.80).
He wasn’t at his best, but that’s pretty good for six innings and one run based on how we’d gotten there from the last few starts. — A.J. Hinch
GameTimes and Starting Pitchers
Friday, 7:10 PM CT: Tarik Skubal (8-1, 1.92) vs. Hunter Brown (2-5, 5.58)
Saturday, 3:10 PM CT: Jack Flaherty (3-4, 3.22) vs. Justin Verlander (3-2, 3.95)
Sunday, 1:10 PM CT, Kenta Maeda (2-2, 5.89) vs. Spencer Arrighetti (3-5, 5.33)