Detroit Tigers vs
Houston AstrosPredictions & Preview

Houston Astros Favored to Extend Series Lead Against Struggling Detroit Tigers in Crucial Matchup

The Detroit Tigers will face off against the Houston Astros in the first game of a three-game series on Friday evening. Tarik Skubal will be the starting pitcher for the Tigers, while Hunter Brown will take the mound for the Astros. The Astros currently lead the season series 2-1. Despite this, Houston is the favorite to win with a betting line opening at -105 and the current line at Houston -110.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Tigers -102 | Astros -110
• Spread: Tigers +1.5 (-218) | Astros -1.5 (+185)
• Total: Over/Under 7.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Houston will win straight-up is 52%.

Detroit vs Houston Stats

Detroit Tigers

Tarik Skubal has been performing exceptionally well on the mound, with impressive statistics and a strong track record against the Astros. Despite Detroit's struggles at the plate and recent series defeats, their pitching staff continues to excel. Wencel Perez is a bright spot in their lineup, having a solid rookie season. However, they will be without Javier Baez due to a back injury. Overall, Detroit is hovering below the .500 mark and will need to improve their consistency to climb in the standings.

Houston Astros Analysis

Hunter Brown will be starting on the mound for the Houston Astros on Friday after an outstanding performance in his last outing, where he pitched six scoreless innings against the Angels. Despite a rough start in April, Brown has shown improvement in May and has allowed only three runs in his outings this month. He currently holds a 5.58 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP with a 2-5 record in 66.1 innings this season. The Astros have won two of their last three series but have some ground to make up in the wildcard standings. They recently earned two wins in three games against the Angels but dropped two of three games against San Francisco. The team is playing without Kyle Tucker and is looking for more consistency from Jeremy Pena, who has shown flashes of productivity. The Astros are averaging 4.43 runs per game, ranking 11th in the league, and have a pitching staff with a 4.18 ERA, ranking 19th. They have a power ranking of 12 and an overall record of 31-38. In their last three matchups against Detroit, the Astros were only able to secure one win.

Detroit Tigers Slump Continues as Houston Astros Fight for Wildcard Spot

The Detroit Tigers have recently experienced a decline in performance, losing five of their last seven games and dropping two consecutive series. The Houston Astros, on the other hand, are in a critical position as they strive to remain competitive in the wildcard race. Despite their best efforts, Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal has struggled on the road lately, giving up five runs, including two home runs, in his last two away games. Astros pitcher Hunter Brown has proven effective against Detroit, limiting them to just two runs in five innings last month and maintaining a solid career ERA of 3.92 in 20 innings. The absence of key hitter Kerry Carpenter has left a significant gap in the Tigers' lineup, adding to the challenges they face in upcoming games.

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