Detroit @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 30, 2017 ) Houston 1, Detroit 13

Coming off their first series loss at home in more than two months, the Houston Astros look to head into the All-Star break on a high note when they host the Detroit Tigers on Friday night in the opener of a three-game set. The American League West winners had won six in a row before they were cooled off by division rival Oakland, losing three of four.

The Astros, who demoted reliever Ken Giles to Triple-A on Wednesday, were unable to hold an early four-run lead in Thursday's series finale and were outscored 14-7 in the final two games. “Obviously, we’re disappointed that we lose the series but we get on to the next one,” Houston manager A.J. Hinch told reporters. “Three more before the break, but we got outplayed this series.” Detroit has been outplayed in nearly every series over the past 3 1/2 weeks and opened its six-game road trip by getting swept at Tampa Bay. The Tigers have lost seven of nine overall to fall a season-worst 15 games below .500 and dropped 12 of their last 14 games away from home.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Mike Fiers (6-5, 3.65 ERA) vs. Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (6-8, 3.95)

Fiers, who spent the previous 2 1/2 seasons with the Astros and threw a no-hitter for them in 2015, halted a five-start winless drought by limiting Texas to one run and five hits over six innings on Saturday. The 33-year-old has pitched better than the recent results indicated, allowing one run in five of his last eight outings. Fiers was 9-10 in 31 starts at Minute Maid Park in 2016-17.

After a rocky five-start winless stretch, Keuchel has settled into a groove and is 3-0 over his last six outings. The 30-year-old won his second straight start Sunday by going seven strong innings and permitting one run on six hits, marking the fourth time in five turns he yielded two runs or fewer. Nicholas Castellanos is 5-for-14 against Kuechel, who is 3-2 lifetime with a 4.65 ERA versus Detroit.

WALK-OFFS

1. Astros 3B Alex Bregman has hit safely in four straight and 16 of his last 17 games.

2. Tigers closer and RHP Shane Greene (shoulder) will come off the disabled list for the series opener.

3. Astros 2B Jose Altuve takes a nine-game hitting streak into the series.

PREDICTION: Astros 6, Tigers 3