Astros at Mariners
Justin Verlander makes his debut for the Houston Astros when he takes the mound against the host Seattle Mariners on Tuesday in the middle contest of their three-game series. Verlander recently was acquired from Detroit after winning 183 games in 12-plus seasons with the club, topped by a 2011 campaign in which he won American League MVP and Cy Young honors.
The 34-year-old Verlander was undecided about agreeing to the deal but eventually waived his no-trade clause with the Astros headed to the playoffs. "The opportunity to come play for a championship-caliber team for not only this year, but for the remainder of my contract, is ultimately what it really came down to," Verlander, who is signed through 2019, told reporters. He will be looking to lead the Astros to their sixth straight victory after they notched a 6-2 win over the Mariners on Monday. Seattle has dropped six of its last nine contests and sits three games behind Minnesota for the AL's second wild-card berth.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Justin Verlander (10-8, 3.82 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Ariel Miranda (8-6, 4.85)
Verlander pitched well in his last three starts for Detroit, going 2-0 with 1.71 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 21 innings during the span. He has won five of his last six decisions and given up two runs or fewer in six of his last seven outings. Verlander has posted a 2.13 ERA in two no-decisions against the Mariners this season - he retired the first 16 batters he faced on June 21, when he registered a season-best 11 strikeouts - and is 10-8 with a 3.15 ERA in 22 career outings.
Miranda has recorded just one victory over his last 10 starts and has worked five innings or fewer in each of the past five. The 28-year-old Cuban, who is tied for most home runs allowed in the majors (35), was roughed up for six runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 frames of a no-decision against Baltimore in his last turn. Miranda has served up seven homers while going 0-2 with a 5.70 ERA in four starts against Houston this season and 1-2 with a 4.99 ERA in five career outings.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Astros are 9-5 against the Mariners this season, including a 5-2 mark at Safeco Field.
2. Houston RF George Springer, who is 8-for-19 with two homers during his five-game hitting streak, has clubbed four solo shots off Miranda in 13 at-bats.
3. Seattle RHP Felix Hernandez (shoulder), who last pitched on July 31, threw a bullpen session on Monday and is slated to pitch a simulated game on Friday.