Minute Maid Park
Game 1: Friday, June 26th, 8:05 PM ET.
Justin Verlander, RHP (8-3, 3.31) Vs. Wandy Rodriguez, LHP (6-6, 3.18)
Tigers: The Tigers broke up the back-to-back tandem of Verlander and Edwin Jackson to help out a rotation that has two rookie starters, but the break means little for teams that have to face Verlander these days. His eighth win in his last 11 outings, 10 of them quality starts, saw him overcome a first-inning home run to hold down the Brewers for 7 2/3 innings and outpitch budding star Yovani Gallardo on Sunday at Comerica Park. He continues to build on his Major League strikeout lead, but his pitch counts are allowing him to work deeper into games. His one career matchup with the Astros saw him outpitch Andy Pettitte for eight scoreless innings and seven strikeouts on June 28, 2006 in Detroit.
Astros: Rodriguez is coming off perhaps his best start of the season, holding the Minnesota Twins to two hits and one run while striking out eight batters in seven innings Sunday. He snapped his four-game losing streak with his first win since May 20, allowing just one hit in the first 22 batters he faced. Rodriguez has faced the Tigers only once previously, and it wasn't pretty. He gave up 10 hits and seven earned runs in 6 2/3 innings in an 8-5 loss on June 26, 2006, in Detroit.
Game 2: Saturday, June 27th, 7:05 PM ET.
Alfredo Figaro, RHP (1-0, 3.60) Vs. Felipe Paulino, RHP (1-4, 6.18)
Tigers: Figaro, the latest rookie to crack Detroit's rotation, gave up eight hits over five innings in his Major League debut last Saturday against Milwaukee, but he also showed the pitches that elevated him up the Tigers' prospect list before he got the call. Armed with four potential big league pitches, Figaro struck out seven hitters, the first Tigers pitcher to do that in his big league debut since Dave Borkowski fanned eight in 1999, and his fastball topped out at 97 mph on the Comerica Park radar gun. Just as important, the 24-year-old showed an impressive ability to stay relaxed in tight situations.
Astros: Paulino will make his first start since June 11 after being on the 15-day disabled list. He was forced to leave his last start against the Pirates in the middle of the second inning, having thrown just 34 pitches, after straining his right groin. Paulino has never faced the Tigers. The only Interleague start of his career came earlier this season against the Rangers, where he gave up four runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings, receiving a no decision.
Game 3: Sunday, June 28th, 2:05 PM ET.
Edwin Jackson, RHP (6-4, 2.40) Vs. Russ Ortiz, RHP (3-3, 3.47)
Tigers: The signs of Jackson's maturity as a pitcher are best seen when he doesn't have his best stuff, and Tuesday was one of times. With a biting slider that was moving almost too much to command, Jackson had the bases loaded with Cubbies three batters into the game, escaped that jam with a lone run allowed, then allowed one more run over his next six innings for a no-decision in his duel with Carlos Zambrano. His ratio of hits per nine innings is down to 7.016, best among American League starters, and his 2.39 ERA stands second in the league to the Royals' Zack Greinke.
Astros: Ortiz's 17 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings was broken up against the Rangers and Ortiz looked to get another streak started against the Royals last time out. Ortiz gave up runs in the second and third innings but held the Astros in the game, allowing just the two runs on five hits over seven innings, his longest outing of the season. Ortiz is 7-6 in 27 career Interleague games (23 starts) and has no record and a 6.14 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against the Tigers.
