Detroit Tigers vs. Houston Astros: Game Time, TV/Radio Coverage, Lineup

May 5, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder Austin Jackson (14) dives back to first base safe in the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at Comerica Park. Detroit won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers go for their eighth straight victory as they take on the Houston Astros in game three of a four-game set at Comerica Park.

Detroit Tigers (19-9) vs. Houston Astros (10-23) — 7:08 PM ET

Comerica Park — Detroit, MI

TV: Fox Sports Detroit

Radio: 97.1 The Ticket (click for radio affiliates)

Weather: 59 degrees, cloudy

When We Last Met

Robbie Ray turned in an excellent performance in his MLB debut last night as the Tigers topped the Astros 11-4. The rookie pitched 5.1 excellent innings with six strikeouts, five hits, one walk, and just one run allowed — a run that might not have scored had Ian Kinsler been able to catch a popup. The Detroit bats killed it offensively, scoring at least eight runs( 11, in this case) for the fourth time in five games. Included in the offensive outburst was a 4-5 day from Miguel Cabrera who homered and doubled. He just might be back.

Pitching Matchup

Rick Porcello is off to a terrific start for the Tigers in 2014. He’s been ratcheting up the strikeout rate after a bit of a slow start, but he’s been ultra-stingy with the walks all season (he’s issued just four in five total starts). His BABIP is low at .272, but his FIP (3.33) and xFIP (3.03) outstrip his current ERA (3.66) suggesting that good luck on balls in play isn’t necessarily artificially suppressing his earned run average.

Brad Peacock will start for Houston. He has a decent strikeout arm (more than 8.3 per nine both this year and last) but has had a lot of trouble issuing walks in his career (4.7 per nine). His career ERA, FIP, and xFIP are all in the 4.70s, so the Tigers should get plenty of opportunities to score runs so long as they don’t chase pitches out of the zone.

Tigers Lineup

Ian Kinsler, 2B
Torii Hunter, RF
Miguel Cabrera, 1B
Victor Martinez, DH
Don Kelly, CF
Nick Castellanos, 3B
Alex Avila, C
Andrew Romine, SS
Rajai Davis, LF

Injuries

Tigers:

Anibal Sanchez – 15-day DL
Luke Putkonen – 15-day DL
Joel Hanrahan – 15-day DL
Andy Dirks – 60-day DL
Jose Iglesias – 60-day DL
Bruce Rondon – 60-day DL

Astros:

Scott Feldman – 15-day DL
Matt Albers – 15-day DL
Asher Wojciechowski – 15-day DL
Alex White – 15-day DL
Jesse Crain – 60-day DL

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