Astros at Tigers
The Houston Astros take aim at their second straight series sweep and an eighth consecutive win overall when they finish a three-game set at the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday. Behind another big night for leadoff hitter George Springer, who had an inside-the-park home run and scored three times, the Astros rolled to an 11-4 win Tuesday night after taking the series opener 8-1.
Houston has scored at least six runs eight times during a 10-1 surge and boasts 33 homers in that stretch. Springer is 11-for-17 with three home runs, 10 runs scored and six RBIs during a remarkable four-game hitting streak. Former Tigers great Justin Verlander will make his second appearance in Detroit since being traded to Houston during the 2017 season. The former MVP, who is 98-50 in 188 career starts in Comerica Park, will be opposed by rookie Gregory Soto making his second career start.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Justin Verlander (6-1, 2.51 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Gregory Soto (0-1, 15.75)
Verlander yielded just one hit in seven scoreless innings while fanning eight in a dominant win over Texas on Friday. He has allowed one or zero runs in five of his last six starts. The 36-year-old allowed two runs over seven innings to get the win in his return to Detroit last September.
Soto is being recalled to start just three days after he was sent down to Double-A Erie in the wake of a difficult major league debut. The 24-year-old gave up seven runs and nine hits across four innings of a loss at Minnesota on Saturday, striking out one and walking two. He went 0-1 with a 2.03 ERA in three starts for Erie.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tigers INF Ronny Rodriguez hit his sixth home run Tuesday and has 16 extra-base hits in 21 games overall.
2. Astros LF Michael Brantley has multiple hits in nine of his last 14 games.
3. Houston has won five straight in Detroit.