Astros at Tigers
Houston ace Dallas Keuchel makes his first start since June 2 on Friday when the Astros continue their nine-game road trip with the first of three contests against the reeling Detroit Tigers. The return of Keuchel - undefeated in 11 starts this season (9-0) - gives first-place Houston, which is 17 games ahead of Seattle in the American League West, the healthy starting rotation it envisioned coming out of spring training for the first time this season.
"It's exciting, for sure,'' Keuchel, who had a neck injury, told reporters about his return. "This team is great. We've held strong; the offense is unbelievable. It's time for the pitching staff to take back over, and hopefully we'll lead this charge to the playoffs." The Astros' Jose Altuve is headed toward his third AL batting title in the last four years and second in a row with a league-high .365 average, and his play lately has arguably made him the favorite to win the AL MVP Award. The diminutive second baseman is batting .494 in 83 July at-bats, .513 during an 18-game hitting streak and .431 on the road this season - leading baseball's most-potent offense (major league highs of 5.9 runs per game, .356 on-base percentage, .292 batting average and 165 home runs). Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann - much better at home than on the road this season although not lately - takes the ball for Detroit, which has lost three straight and six of its last eight games.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston), FSN Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (9-0, 1.67 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Jordan Zimmermann (6-8, 5.81)
Keuchel missed two starts in May because of a pinched nerve in his neck and was scratched right before his June 7 start when the injury flared up in the bullpen. The 29-year-old Oklahoman has pitched at least six innings and allowed two or fewer runs in all but one of his starts. Miguel Cabrera, Ian Kinsler, Victor Martinez and James McCann have all homered off Keuchel, who is 3-2 with a 4.30 ERA in six games (five starts) versus Detroit.
Zimmermann yielded five runs, nine hits and four walks in 3 2/3 innings of a 6-5 loss at Minnesota on Saturday, falling to 1-5 with a 6.67 ERA in 11 road starts this season. The 31-year-old Wisconsin native permitted four runs (two earned) in six innings of a 6-2 loss at Houston on May 23, dropping to 2-3 with a 2.95 ERA in six starts versus the Astros. Zimmermann, who has lost his last two home outings, fares well against Altuve (1-for-9).
WALK-OFFS
1. Tigers CF Mikie Mahtook (.292) is riding a career-best 11-game hitting streak, batting .381 during that span. He has raised his average 61 points since June 21.
2. Houston CF George Springer (.310, 27 home runs, 66 RBIs), who missed the last two games with a quad injury but could return Friday, is batting .403 in July.
3. The Astros won three out of four meetings in May with Altuve going 3-for-15 in the series to drop his average against Detroit to .295 in 105 at-bats.