Detroit Tigers (59-69) vs Houston Astros (72-58)
When: 6:10 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Comerica Park in Detroit.
TV: Bally Sports Detroit.
Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1) in Detroit (Tigers radio affiliates).
Starting pitchers: Tigers LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (9-6, 3.03 ERA) vs. Astros RHP Hunter Brown (9-9, 4.50 ERA).
Tigers lineup:
- LF Akil Baddoo
- RF Riley Greene
- 1B Spencer Torkelson
- DH Kerry Carpenter
- 3B Matt Vierling
- CF Parker Meadows
- SS Javier Báez
- 2B Zach McKinstry
- C Carson Kelly
Game notes: The Tigers will have the ace of their staff on the mound for their second matchup with the Astros at Comerica Park, after stunning the Astros on Friday night with a 4-1 walk-off win via Parker Meadows’ first career home run.
The Astros are in a dogfight for the AL West with the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers, but appear well-prepared for another deep postseason run after reacquiring Justin Verlander, who will be on the mound Sunday, from the New York Mets at the trade deadline.
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Either way, with 32 games remaining in the season, each and every time out is crucial for the Astros, so the Tigers should expect Houston’s best this series. That’s why it’s good news for the Tigers that Eduardo Rodriguez is scheduled to take the mound Saturday.
With the exception of his start against the Boston Red Sox on Aug. 13 where he gave up six runs and 10 hits, Rodriguez has looked like his normal dominant self since turning down a trade that would’ve sent him to the Los Angeles Dodgers (the move certainly hasn’t affected the Dodgers too much; they are 22-6 in the month of August after E-Rod blocked the trade).
Rodriguez has a 3.28 ERA in four starts in August, but that’s a bit inflated due to the blowup performance against the Red Sox. In his other three starts this month, the Tigers are 3-0 and Rodriguez has picked up a win in each.
On the other side, the Tigers will be facing Hunter Brown, who gave up six earned runs and eight hits in just 2⅔ innings the last time he pitched. The former Lakeview High School standout and Wayne State alum was a fifth-round pick in the 2019 MLB draft, and has a 7.02 ERA in August and 2-2 record. To be fair to Brown, his four appearances this month have come against the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, Miami Marlins and Seattle Mariners, all quality opponents.
Even if Brown doesn’t bring his best stuff, the Tigers will still have their hands full. The Astros’ lineup boasts some of the best hitters in the MLB, averaging 4.88 runs per game, No. 8 in the MLB, entering Friday. The Tigers average four runs per game (28th).
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