Detroit Tigers vs Houston Astros Game 44 Preview, TV, Lineup

Detroit Tigers (26-17) vs Houston Astros (27-16) – 4:08 PM ET

Comerica Park – Detroit, MI

TV: FSD

Radio: 97.1 The Ticket (click for affiliates)

Weather: 70 degrees, sunny

More from Motor City Bengals

• Detroit Tigers: Victor Reyes finding ways to get the job done
• The Detroit Tigers must cut their losses and release Jonathan Schoop
• Detroit Tigers: Garrett Hill’s new role and changed delivery are excellent
• Detroit Tigers: Joe Jiménez has rebounded in 2022
• Detroit Tigers: Is it finally time to move the fences in at Comerica Park?

Game Preview 

The Detroit Tigers will try to guarantee a series victory with a third straight win over the Astros on Saturday afternoon. Detroit has the American League’s best record in day games this season at 16-4 while the team’s best hitter, Miguel Cabrera, will attempt to extend his 10-game hitting streak.

Meanwhile, Houston is trying to avoid just its second three-game losing streak of the season.

When We Last Met

After the late heroics of catcher James McCann on Thursday, right fielder J.D. Martinez haunted his former team with a three-run homer in the third to erase Houston’s early lead. Detroit added three more runs in the eighth to win, 6-2.

Detroit is 2-0 this season versus Houston. This is the first series the Tigers are facing a team from the AL West, but the next three series for the Tigers are all against AL West opponents.

Pitching Matchup

Kyle Lobstein (3-4, 4.29) bounced back after allowing six runs two starts ago to pitch a decent outing in his last trip to the mound for the Detroit Tigers on Monday, allowing three runs on seven his in 6.2 innings of work. As is often the case with Lobstein when he pitches well, the first inning is a problem. He allowed a run in the first, fourth and seventh but the Tigers’ offense was on sabbatical and could only muster two runs in the 3-2 loss.

Lance McCullers will be making his major league debut in Saturday’s game. A promising prospect in the talent rich Houston minor league system, McCullers is a righty who was drafted as the 41st overall pick (first round) in the 2012 MLB Draft. He’s been very stingy at AA Corpus Christi this season, posting a 3-1 mark in four starts with a 0.62 ERA and 0.897 WHIP.

Tigers Lineup

1. Anthony Gose CF
2. Ian Kinsler 2B
3. Miguel Cabrera 1B
4. J.D. Martinez RF
5. Yoenis Cespedes LF
6. Nick Castellanos 3B
7. Tyler Collins DH
8. James McCann C
9. Jose Iglesias SS

Injuries

• Victor Martinez — 15-day DL
• Bruce Rondon — 15-day DL
• Alex Avila — 15-day DL
• Justin Verlander — 15-day DL
• Joe Nathan – Out for the Season

Next: Verlander, Rondon getting close to a return