Astros at Orioles
The Houston Astros took it easy on the Baltimore Orioles in the series opener on Friday, easing to a 3-2 win, but showed off just how explosive their offense can be in a 23-2 drubbing Saturday. The Astros will try to make it a clean sweep when they visit the Orioles for the finale of a three-game series on Sunday.
Houston posted its eighth consecutive win overall and pushed its lead over the Oakland Athletics in the American League West to 11 games while pounding six home runs among 25 hits on Saturday, highlighted by a trio of blasts from rookie designated hitter Yordan Alvarez. The 22-year-old Cuban is up to 17 home runs in 45 career games and his .743 slugging percentage is the best on a team in which each of the first seven hitters in the lineup slugs above .500. The Orioles' pitching staff is struggling mightily of late and allowed at least nine runs in four of the last five games - all losses - and watched starter Aaron Brooks serve up nine runs in three innings Saturday to put more pressure on an overworked bullpen. Baltimore will try to get some length on Sunday from right-hander Asher Wojciechowski while righty Justin Verlander continues his run at another Cy Young Award for the Astros.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), MASN 2 (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Justin Verlander (15-4, 2.68 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Asher Wojciechowski (2-5, 4.89)
Verlander surrendered a total of one earned run in his last three starts and held the opposition to two or fewer runs in five straight. The former AL MVP posted 46 strikeouts across 25 innings over his last four outings to reach 206 on the season, marking the ninth time in his career that he recorded at least 200 punchouts. Verlander last started at Baltimore on Sept. 29, when he scattered three hits over six scoreless innings and struck out 10.
Wojciechowski was roughed up for a total of nine runs and 12 hits - five home runs - over 8 2/3 innings in his last two starts to suffer a pair of losses. The 30-year-old, who began his career with Houston in 2015, owns 47 strikeouts over 38 2/3 total innings but also served up 10 home runs in that span. Wojciechowski is 1-3 with a 4.91 ERA in five games - four starts - at home in 2019.
WALK-OFFS
1. Astros SS Carlos Correa's 474-foot homer on Saturday marked the longest at Camden Yards since Statcast began tracking home run distance in 2015.
2. Baltimore RHP Tayler Scott has allowed 16 runs in 5 2/3 innings over five appearances with the team.
3. Houston 3B Alex Bregman is 12-for-23 with eight extra-base hits and 11 runs scored over the last six games.