Houston Astros vs Detroit Tigers Picks and Predictions June 14th 2024

Astros Prepare for Tigers Showdown Following Up-and-Down Road Trip

After a 3-3 road trip that included consecutive walk-off losses, the Houston Astros are set to return home for a three-game weekend series against the Detroit Tigers starting Friday. The Astros are looking to regain momentum and solidify their standing as they face a resilient Tigers team.

Injury Updates: Kyle Tucker and Yainer Diaz

The Astros have been dealing with key injuries, with outfielder Kyle Tucker (shin) missing the last eight games and catcher Yainer Diaz (hand) out for the past three. Their return to the lineup remains uncertain, adding pressure on the rest of the roster to step up.

“We do have guys that can perform and do the job. We need everyone,” Houston manager Joe Espada said. “I believe in this group of players. They’re all capable of hitting and we need everyone to hit and contribute, and I believe that they’re going to.”

Pitching Matchup: Hunter Brown vs. Tarik Skubal

Hunter Brown (Astros)

Right-hander Hunter Brown (2-5, 5.58 ERA) is set to start the series opener for the Astros. Brown has shown significant improvement recently, delivering four consecutive quality starts. His latest outing against the Los Angeles Angels saw him allow just two hits with four walks and seven strikeouts over six shutout innings, contributing to a 6-1 victory. Over his last four starts, Brown has posted a 2.25 ERA, a stark contrast to his early-season struggles.

Against the Tigers, Brown has a career record of 2-0 with a 3.92 ERA in four appearances (three starts). His most recent performance against Detroit on May 11 saw him give up one run on five hits with seven strikeouts over five innings, though he did not factor into the decision.

Tarik Skubal (Tigers)

The Tigers will counter with left-hander Tarik Skubal (8-1, 1.92 ERA), who leads the American League in ERA and WHIP (0.891). Skubal has been outstanding, allowing just two runs over his past three starts, achieving a 0.92 ERA with 24 strikeouts over 19 2/3 innings. His consistency is underscored by nine quality starts in his last 10 outings.

Skubal’s career record against the Astros stands at 1-0 with a 2.33 ERA in three starts. He earned a win on May 11 against the Astros, giving up two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out seven over 6 1/3 innings.

Tigers’ Recent Performance

The Tigers recently completed a six-game homestand with a 2-4 record, salvaging the final game of a three-game series against the Washington Nationals with a 7-2 victory on Thursday. A key moment was a five-run seventh inning, sparked by rookie designated hitter Justyn-Henry Malloy.

Malloy, who made his major league debut on June 3, had been struggling with a .150 batting average entering Thursday’s game. However, he delivered a solo home run in the sixth and capped the seventh-inning rally with a two-run double.

“What it means is just having a game like this or having a big hit in a big moment or having the feeling of contributing and doing it again and again and have a breakout game like that,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “It brings some confidence, it brings a little bit of a collective exhale for him and for all of his family around him and all of his friends and the people that are following every step of this young guy’s move now that he’s in the big leagues. Hopefully, he can relax those shoulders and relax that mind.”

Conclusion

The upcoming series between the Astros and Tigers promises to be an exciting matchup, with both teams eager to build on recent performances. With key injuries, standout pitching, and emerging young talent, this series is a crucial juncture for both teams as they navigate the season.