Houston Astros Set Pitching Probables for Detroit Tigers Series

The Houston Astros have set their pitching probables for their three-game series with the Detroit Tigers, which starts on Friday at Comerica Park.

The games on Friday and Saturday are scheduled for 5:40 p.m. central, while Sunday’s finale is set for 12:40 p.m.

The Astros expect to start Framber Valdez (9-9, 3.55) on Friday. The left-hander has not been the ace he was in the first half of the season. He has lost each of his last two starts, including Saturday’s game against the Mariners. In that contest he threw five innings, giving up 10 hits and six earned runs. He walked two and struck out five.

In his last seven starts he is 2-3 with a 6.18 ERA. He threw a no-hitter as recently as Aug. 1 against Cleveland. That was also his last victory.

Right-hander Mark Manning (5-4, 4.31) is expected to start for the Tigers on Friday. He will be making his 13th start of the season. In his last outing against Cleveland on Saturday he went six innings, giving up five hits and one earned run as he claimed the victory. He struck out two and walked one.

In his last seven starts he is 2-3 with a 4.79 ERA.

Hunter Brown (9-9, 4.50) is expected to start on Saturday for the Astros. The rookie is coming off a loss on Sunday against Seattle in which he only threw 2.2 innings. He gave up eight hits, six earned runs and two walks while striking out five.

He is 3-3 with a 5.56 ERA in his last seven games, six of which have been starts. He has struck out 32 and walked eight in that span.

Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (9-6, 3.03) is expected to start for the Tigers on Saturday. He earned a win against Cleveland on Sunday, going 6.2 innings and giving up four hits. He allowed one earned run and one walk while striking out six. He’s been effective of late, with a 5-1 record and a 3.70 ERA in his last seven starts, with 41 strikeouts and 11 walks.

The Astros expect to turn to Justin Verlander (9-6, 3.19) on Sunday. He claimed the victory in his last start against Boston on Tuesday, going six innings and giving up five hits and no runs. He walked one and struck out nine.

He has been Houston’s most effective starter since he rejoined the team in August after a trade with the New York Mets. He’s 3-1 in that span and has 22 strikeouts against five walks. Verlander broke in with the Tigers and pitched for Detroit from 2005-17 before the Tigers traded him to Houston.

Detroit expects to start right-hander Alex Faedo (2-4, 4.91) on Sunday. He took a no-decision in his last start against the Chicago Cubs on Monday, giving up three hits and two earned runs in six innings. He struck out four and walked two. He is 2-2 with a 5.05 in his last seven starts, with 33 strikeouts and 12 walks.

After Sunday’s finale, the Astros head to Boston for a three-game series with the Red Sox.

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