Detroit Tigers at Houston Astros Game 116 Preview, TV, Lineup

Detroit Tigers (55-60) at Houston Astros (63-53) — 7:10 PM ET

Minute Maid Park — Houston, TX 

TV: FSD

Radio: 97.1 The Ticket (click for affiliates)

Weather:  91 degrees, clear

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When We Last Met

The Detroit Tigers were still just two games behind the Kansas City Royals when the Houston Astros came to Comerica Park in late May, and Detroit took the first two games of the series. Houston, however, took the next two, including a 10-8 victory in which the Tigers blew a, 7-3, lead.

Since that series, only the Boston Red Sox have a worse record in the America League than the Tigers, who are 29-39 since May 26. Surprisingly, the Astros are just 34-36 since leaving Detroit at the end of May.

Houston took Game 1 of this weekend series, 5-1, on Friday behind another strong pitching performance from ace Dallas Keuchel. He hasn’t lost a home game all season.

The most exciting news for Tigers fans Friday was that Miguel Cabrera returned to the field. He went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a walk.

Pitching Matchup

Right-hander Justin Verlander will take the mound for the Detroit Tigers. Verlander has been better lately and in his last start he allowed no earned runs on four hits in six innings. Unfortunately, he still received the loss, though, because he yielded two unearned runs.

In his last 29 innings, Verlander has yielded seven runs, but five of those came against the Kansas City Royals on August 4. Overall, the right-hander is 1-5 with a 4.57 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 47 strikeouts in 63 innings this season.

28-year-old Collin McHugh will be on the bump for Houston. He is 13-6 this season with a 4.22 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 116 strikeouts in 145 innings. McHugh lost his last start against the Athletics, but he allowed just two runs on five hits, struck out eight and walked three in six innings.

McHugh faced the Tigers on May 22 and allowed three runs on nine hits in seven innings. The Tigers won, 6-2. Still on the disabled list for that series, Verlander has not faced the Astros this season.

Detroit Tigers Lineup

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

Injuries

• Kyle Lobstein — 60-day DL
• Joe Nathan – Out for the Season

Next: Detroit Tigers: Ian Kinsler is red hot in the second half