Detroit Tigers (8-15) vs. Houston Astros (14-11)
When: 8:10 p.m. Thursday.
Where: Minute Maid Park in Houston.
TV: Bally Sports Detroit.
Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1) (Tigers radio affiliates).
Weather forecast: Chance of rain, low-80s.
Probable pitchers: Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal (1-2, 3.05 ERA) vs. Astros RHP Jose Urquidy (2-1 5.95 ERA).
Tigers lineup
1. Akil Baddoo, CF
2. Robbie Grossman, RF
3. Javier Bàez, SS
4. Austin Meadows, RF
5. Miguel Cabrera, DH
6. Jeimer Candelario, 3B
7. Harold Castro, 2B
8. Spencer Torkelson, 1B
9. Tucker Barnhart, C
COLUMN: After a terrible and cruel April, Tigers could be headed for sunnier May
Game notes: The Tigers are near the beginning of a 17-games-in-15-days stretch. The Astros have been much better since a four-game losing streak in mid-April, winning seven of their last nine.
Skubal ran off two nice starts before ceding six runs (three earned) to the Minnesota Twins on April 28. He’ll look to get back on track against an Astros team he dominated in June last season. The electric lefty completed seven innings, striking out nine and allowing three walks, one hit and one run.
Urquidy has had two solid starts and two clunkers so far. Last time out, he allowed seven hits and four runs Friday vs. the Toronto Blue Jays, striking out six in five innings. It’s his first career start vs. the Tigers. Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker is heating up after a rough first two weeks; he has 11 hits in his past 26 at-bats with four doubles and seven RBI.
There’s another night game Friday before earlier starts Saturday and Sunday to end the series.
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Follow the Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for more news. Tyler Davis can be contacted at tjdavis@freepress.com or on Twitter @TDavisFreep.
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