Justin Verlander intends to keep his career record against the Astros just the way it is so far: undefeated. The 2011 American League MVP is 4-0 with a 2.05 ERA in seven career starts against the Astros. He was 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two starting gigs last year versus Houston, including a complete game.
Verlander bounced back from a 4-1 road loss to the Angels on May 14, when he yielded four earned runs on five hits, while also issuing five free passes in six innings, by earning a victory at home versus the Rangers, one that stopped Texas’ 10-game win streak. Verlander went seven innings long, serving three earned runs on four hits while striking out five Rangers. On the season, Verlander is 4-3 with a 4.39 ERA in nine starts.
Alex Avila is 7-for-21 at the plate with four doubles and a homer in his last six games. J.D.Martinez, meanwhile, is 6-for-21 with a pair of blasts in his last seven.
The over is 4-1 in Verlander’s last five road starts.
Among starters with at least 40 innings pitched this season, Mike Fiers stand alone atop as the majors’ most blasted pitcher, ratio-wise. Per nine innings pitched, Fiers is giving a majors-worst 3.64 home runs. Over his last five starts, Fiers has given up nine homers across 11 total innings.
As shaky as Fiers has been on the mound this season (he is 1-2 with a 5.14 ERA in eight starts), he could’ve absorbed more losses if it weren’t for the Astros’ offense. Houston is second in the AL in runs and third in batting average. Fiers is also getting 4.29 runs in run support per nine innings.
Josh Reddick is having a good run of late at the plate, going 5-for-16 in his last five games. Jose Altuve, on the other hand, isn’t in his normal consistent self lately, going 4-for-21 in his last six.
