Detroit Tigers vs
Houston AstrosPredictions & Preview

Tigers vs Astros Game 2 Preview: Houston Looks to Even Series at Minute Maid Park with Hunter Brown on the Mound

The Detroit Tigers secured a 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros in game one of their Wild Card series, with Tarik Skubal delivering an impressive performance on the mound. The Tigers have announced Tyler Holton as their starting pitcher for game 2, while the Astros will start Hunter Brown in an effort to avoid elimination. The game will take place at Minute Maid Park at 2:32 EST on Wednesday afternoon, with Houston being favored to win.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Tigers +156 | Astros -174
• Spread: Tigers +1.5 (-145) | Astros -1.5 (+125)
• Total: Over/Under 7.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Houston will win straight-up is 64%.

Detroit vs Houston Stats

Detroit Tigers

In Tuesday's game, the Tigers' offense had a strong start but struggled against Houston's bullpen, managing only three hits and striking out seven times in the later innings. Detroit's offense has had difficulty performing on the road this season, hitting .234 with a .680 OPS away from home. Jake Rogers and Wenceel Perez were key contributors in the win, while Riley Greene has had success against Houston's starter in the past. The Tigers' pitching was mostly strong, but closer Jason Foley had a ninth-inning collapse before Beau Briske stepped in to secure the victory. Detroit will likely rely on their bullpen in the upcoming game, with probable starter Holton having performed well in recent appearances. The Tigers currently hold a power ranking of 5, ranking 20th in offense, 5th in defense, and have a season record of 87-76.

Houston Astros Analysis

The Houston Astros, known for their potent offense, faced tough competition against the best pitcher in the American League on Tuesday. Despite being held at bay for most of the game, they nearly staged a comeback in the ninth inning, ultimately scoring one run. The Astros have excelled this season with an AL-best .267 batting average and .770 OPS at home, scoring 395 runs on 254 extra-base hits. With a lineup filled with experienced postseason players, including standout hitters Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman, the Astros are well-equipped to handle high-pressure situations. Tuesday's starter Framber Valdez struggled, but the bullpen stepped up and limited further damage from the Tigers. Manager Joe Espada named Brown as the game 2 starter following the loss, highlighting his impressive performance in recent games and success against Detroit in previous matchups. Overall, the Astros hold a power ranking of 11 and rank 10th in offense, scoring an average of 4.60 runs per game. In their last three matchups against Detroit, Houston emerged victorious in two out of three games.

Astros look to even series against Tigers at Minute Maid Park

The upcoming game will also be played under the Minute Maid roof, mirroring Tuesday's match. The Astros boast a home record of 46-35 this season, while the Tigers have performed well on the road with a 43-38 record. Detroit managed to narrowly defeat the Astros in the previous game with Skubal pitching, but Houston's experienced team is not one to easily concede defeat. Their key players showed strong performance on Tuesday, displaying resilience in the ninth inning. With Brown slated to pitch, a player who has consistently outperformed the Tigers in past matchups, the Astros are well-positioned for success. Anticipated early scoring and a confident performance should lead them to victory in this game, aligning with their recent record of 6-4 against the Tigers in the last ten games. Overall, the Astros seem poised to even the series - making them the favored pick for this matchup.

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