Detroit Tigers vs. Houston Astros Series Preview
By Tony Fischer
April 28, 2013; Boston, MA USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) bats during the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
You would think if the Detroit Tigers were playing the Houston Astros we would be talking about inter-league play. Well if you are just tuning in to the baseball season the Astros are now in the American League west and they have had a rough introduction from the American League. The Astros are rebuilding under the guidance of new GM Jeff Luhnow a math wiz who was hired to implement the SABR metrics strategy of building a baseball team.
The New Look Astros
The Astros are a young team. Most of their starting line-up is in either their rookie or sophomore season. They are led by young second basemen Jose Altuve. Altuve has started the season batting .336 with 7 doubles and a triple. He has speed to burn and is a force at the top of the Astros line-up. Former Tiger Carlos Pena signed a free agent contract with the Astros in the offseason to provide some power. The free swinging designated hitter has only 2 home runs and eight RBI but is starting to heat up and had a great series against the Yankees going 5 for 11. The Astros have developing talent and its best the Tigers don’t underestimate them.
The Last Series
The Houston Astros are coming off a series against the New York Yankees in which they lost 2 games but scored 17 runs. The Astros are 8-20 coming off a terrible record for the month of April.
The Detroit Tigers beat up on the Minnesota Twins for the first two games of their last series but failed to complete the sweep with a 6-2 loss on Cinco de Mayo. The Tigers starting pitchers are throwing the ball about as well as anyone in the American League amassing 31 strike-outs in the three game series against the Twins.
Probable Pitchers and Start Times
Thursday, May 2nd 8:10 pm EST
Rick Porcello 1-2 8.84 ERA vs Jordan Lyles (Season Debut)
Friday, May 3rd 8:10 pm
Doug Fister 4-0 2.38 ERA vs. Bud Norris 3-3 4.20 ERA
Saturday May 4th 7:10 pm EST
Max Scherzer 3-0 4.02 ERA vs Lucas Harrell 3-2 3.20 ERA
Sunday May 5th 4:10 pm EST
Justin Verlander 3-2 1.83 ERA vs Phillip Humber 0-6 7.58 ERA
You can catch the series on Fox Sports Detroit beginning tonight at 8:10 pm. Detroit Jock City will be online with twitter @detroitjockcity to read your comments and retweet your brilliant observations. Don’t forget to log on to Detroit Jock City after the game to get all analysis of all the latest Detroit Tigers news.