Orioles at Astros
The Houston Astros will try to start a new winning streak Wednesday, when they host the Baltimore Orioles in the middle contest of their three-game series. After sweeping a four-game series at the Los Angeles Angels to give them a season-high six straight wins, the Astros didn’t have an answer for Baltimore right-hander Chris Tillman in a 4-1 loss on Tuesday. Baltimore has won two in a row to remain 2 1/2 games behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League East.
The Orioles will be without outfielder Nick Markakis, who left the team after Tuesday’s game to attend his grandmother’s funeral. Markakis, who is one of four Baltimore starters hitting .300 or better, also is expected to miss Thursday's series finale. Chris Davis has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games to bump his average from .312 to .355, while Houston’s best hitter remains Jose Altuve at .295
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), CSN (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Freddy Garcia (2-2, 3.57 ERA) vs. Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (2-2, 5.10)
Garcia has won back-to-back starts for the first time since last August. In his most recent outing, a 2-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday, he went eight scoreless innings for the first time since 2006. Garcia made his only career appearance against the Astros in 2004, when he was with the Seattle Mariners.
Keuchel, who will be making his sixth straight start, can take a major stride toward remaining in the rotation with another solid performance against the Orioles. He went a season-long seven innings on Friday against the Los Angeles Angels, allowing two runs and six hits without walking a batter. Keuchel received his opportunity as a starter when Philip Humber went to the bullpen after dropping his first seven decisions.
WALK-OFFS
1. Baltimore RHP Jair Jurrjens left Sunday’s game after 2 2/3 innings with a right thumb injury and manager Buck Showalter said he could miss his next start.
2. Orioles LHP Wei-Yin Chen threw 25 pitches Tuesday, the first time he has thrown a baseball since suffering an oblique strain on May 12.
3. Baltimore RHP Pedro Strop (back) threw a 20-pitch simulated game Tuesday and is expected to rejoin the team this weekend for the start of a series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
PREDICTION: Orioles 5, Astros 1