Detroit Tigers at Houston Astros: Game 76 Preview, TV/Radio Coverage, Lineup

May 29, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Members of the Houston Astros including right fielder

George Springer

(4) stands for the national anthem before a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Tigers(43-32) at Houston Astros (34-46) – 8:10 p.m. EDT

Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX

TV: Fox Sports Detroit

Radio: 97.1 The Ticket (click for affiliates)

Weather: 75 degrees, 60 percent chance of storms (stadium has retractable roof)

Game Notes

More from Detroit Tigers News

The Detroit Tigers are red-hot, winners of seven straight, coming off two straight sweeps to start a long road trip, and heading into the home of a last place team. Where have we heard that before?

Actually it was about six weeks ago when the Tigers started their last three-city road trip at 6-0. Then they went into Cleveland and promptly lost three straight, sending them into a tailspin that they finally emerged from at the start of this winning streak.

It’s worth noting, there were no Zubaz suits, and no plane malfunctions to prevent the team from traveling to Houston. So it’s on Justin Verlander to continue the team’s winning ways and try to clinch their longest winning streak of the season at eight.

The Houston Astros are no longer the pushover that came into Comerica Park in early May and certainly not the team that the Tigers outscored 34-7 in a four-game sweep at Minute Maid Park from May 2 to 5, 2013.

Houston will see a return of the reigning AL Player of the Week, J.D. Martinez. He played in two of the games against them in Detroit, going 2-for-8. He’s a different player now, and hopefully his hot streak will continue against the team that cut him late in Spring Training, despite his hitting streak being snapped last night in Arlington.

When We Last Met

Aside from one blowout during the four-game series in Detroit nearly two months ago, the Astros played the Tigers very well. A 2-0 win and 3-2 win for the Tigers was wrapped around an 11-4 bombing. The Astros prevented the four-game sweep with a 6-2 win on May 8.

Pitching Matchup

Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Much was made about Justin Verlander (6-7, 4.82) tweaking a few things before his last start and it paid dividends. Verlander was part of a solid turn though the rotation in his last outing against Cleveland. Though he picked up a no-decision in the extra innings Detroit win, he allowed just two runs on five hits with eight strikeouts over seven innings. This start should be telling on whether his last start was a fluke or if J.V. has genuinely solved what ails him. The last time he faced Houston, Verlander shut them out over seven innings and recorded nine strikeouts in a 9-0 win on May 5, 2013.

Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Brad Peacock (2-4, 4.50) faced the Tigers in Detroit last month and pitched very well despite taking the loss. He allowed three runs on four hits over 6 2/3 inning in the 3-2 setback. He has helped Houston climb out of laugher status as one of the young arms that has propelled the Astros into the AL ERA leaders. He has not lost since May 12, allowing just nine runs in that stretch which includes two wins and three no-decisions.

Detroit Tigers Lineup

Injuries

Detroit Tigers

Ian Krol – 15-Day DL
Luke Putkonen – Out indefinitely
Joel Hanrahan – Out indefinitely
Andy Dirks – 60-day DL
Jose Iglesias – Out for season
Bruce Rondon – Out for season

Houston Astros

Josh Fields – 15-day DL
Matt Albers – 15-day DL
Jesse Crain — Out indefinitely
Anthony Bass – Out indefinitely
Jose Cisnero – Out for season

Schedule