Baltimore @ Houston preview

Baltimore at Houston

Last Meeting ( Mar 15, 2011 ) Houston 14, Baltimore 8

The red-hot Houston Astros return home from a perfect six-game road trip to begin a three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday. Houston edged the Los Angeles Angels 2-1 on Monday to complete a four-game sweep and wrap up its best trek since going 7-0 in Montreal and Philadelphia from Sept. 3-9, 1999. The Astros, who occupy last place in the American League West, are in the midst of their longest winning streak since they captured seven in a row from July 27-Aug. 3, 2010.

Baltimore, which is beginning a six-game trip, enters with the second-best road record in the major leagues at 17-12. The Orioles 4-1 homestand that concluded Sunday with a 4-2 comeback win over the Detroit Tigers. Chris Davis highlighted a three-run seventh inning with his major league-leading 20th home run and scored an insurance run in the eighth as Baltimore won for the sixth time in seven home games.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), Comcast SportsNet (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Chris Tillman (4-2, 4.26 ERA) vs. Astros RH Lucas Harrell (4-6, 5.37)

Tillman struggled in his last outing, surrendering six runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings against the Washington Nationals before escaping with a no-decision. The 25-year-old also served up four home runs, raising his total to 11 over his last five starts. Tillman, who is 3-0 on the road this year, has yet to face Houston in his career.

Harrell ended his personal four-game losing streak Thursday as he allowed four runs (three earned) and eight hits over 5 2/3 innings in a victory over the Rockies in Colorado. The right-hander, who celebrated his 28th birthday Monday, was tagged for five or more runs three times over his previous five starts but yielded one earned run in each of the other two outings. Harrell will be facing Baltimore for the first time.

WALK-OFFS

1. Davis was named AL Player of the Week on Monday for the second time this year after going 13-for-27 with four homers and six RBIs.

2. Astros OF Justin Maxwell, who has been on the disabled list with a broken left hand since April 24, will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi on Tuesday.

3. Baltimore is visiting Houston for the first time since being swept in a three-game series from June 3-5, 2003.

PREDICTION: Orioles 4, Astros 1