Detroit @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 13, 2018 ) Detroit 0, Houston 3

All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman looks to add to his career-high total of 20 homers when the American League West-leading Houston Astros host the struggling Detroit Tigers on Saturday afternoon for the middle contest of their three-game set. Bregman, who will participate in the Home Run Derby on Monday, went deep to help the Astros win the series opener 3-0 and extend his hitting streak to five games.

Jose Altuve, who has hit safely in his last 21 starts at home, and Yuli Gurriel each went 2-for-4 in Friday’s victory and carry 10-game hitting streaks into the second game of the series as Houston goes for its ninth win in 12 contests. All-Star Gerrit Cole looks for his 10th victory of the season when he takes the mound for the Astros on Saturday opposite Michael Fulmer, who has nothing to show for posting two straight quality starts. The Tigers were shut out Friday for a major league-high 12th time - and second during their current five-game losing streak - as they went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Nicholas Castellanos recorded one of Detroit's seven hits in the setback to extend his hitting streak to five games (7-for-18) while rookie Ronny Rodriguez added a pair of singles.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Detroit, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Michael Fulmer (3-8, 4.11 ERA) vs. Astros RH Gerrit Cole (9-2, 2.57)

Fulmer is winless in his last four starts but gave the Tigers a chance in all of them, allowing only 12 earned runs in 26 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old Oklahoman is 2-2 on the road as opposed to 1-6 at home and has posted just one victory since May 23. Josh Reddick is 2-for-4 against Fulmer, who lost his only career start versus the Astros despite yielding just one run over seven frames.

Cole is expected to return from the bereavement list and attempt to end a three-game winless streak after going 7-0 with seven quality starts in his previous 11 outings. The 27-year-old UCLA product held Oakland to three hits over six scoreless frames on Monday while registering 11 strikeouts and three walks but was not involved in the decision. Castellanos is 5-for-10 with four RBIs versus Cole, who is 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in four career meetings with Detroit.

WALK-OFFS

1. Detroit SS Jose Iglesias, who is 20-for-56 lifetime against Houston, could return Saturday after missing two games with a hand injury.

2. Houston C-DH Evan Gattis, who is second on the team with 62 RBIs, is hitless in his last 17 at-bats and was rested in the series opener.

3. Tigers RHP Shane Greene allowed two hits in a scoreless inning Friday in his first outing since July 1 due to a shoulder injury.

PREDICTION: Astros 5, Tigers 2