Tigers at Astros
Justin Verlander is in top form as he goes up against his former team. The veteran right-hander looks to win his sixth consecutive decision when the Houston Astros host the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday for the middle contest of their three-game series.
Verlander has gone 5-0 with a 2.30 ERA over his last seven starts, registering 75 strikeouts in 43 innings during that stretch. The pitcher who won both the American League MVP and Cy Young Award for the Tigers in 2011 is 2-1 with a 3.60 ERA in three starts against his former team since being dealt to Houston late in the 2017 season. "There's been a big turnover of young faces, lot of young, new talent," Verlander told reporters of his former organization prior to Tuesday's game. "It's a team that's still in the middle of a rebuild. I'm not around there now to really know what's going on, but I'm sure there's plenty of positives to be seen." Houston won a 6-3 decision on Tuesday for its third straight triumph, while the setback was Detroit's fourth straight and eighth in 10 games.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Daniel Norris (3-10, 4.82 ERA) vs. Astros RH Justin Verlander (15-4, 2.81)
Norris has lost each of his last two decisions and nine of his last 10. The 26-year-old has gone 2-4 with a 4.52 ERA in 15 road contests (13 starts) this season. Norris is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in two career starts against the Astros and has struggled with Alex Bregman (4-for-6, three RBIs) and George Springer (3-for-5).
Verlander has fanned at least 10 batters in a career-best six straight starts and leads the majors with 228 strikeouts. The 36-year-old beat the Tigers in Detroit on May 15, when he gave up one run, two hits and two walks while striking out nine in seven innings. Verlander settled for a no-decision in his last turn after allowing two runs and four hits while registering 11 strikeouts over seven frames against Oakland.
WALK-OFFS
1. Springer set a franchise record with his 10th leadoff homer of the season, surpassing the mark he set in 2017.
2. The Tigers placed Friday's scheduled starter Matthew Boyd on the paternity list and recalled fellow LHP Tyler Alexander from Triple-A Toledo.
3. Houston SS Carlos Correa (back) sat out one day after being injured and likely will be placed on the 10-day injured list.