Houston @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 28, 2018 ) Houston 2, Baltimore 1

The Houston Astros have a chance to match - or eclipse - the franchise record for wins in a season when they continue their four-game series at the Baltimore Orioles with a doubleheader on Saturday. The Astros, who open the American League Division Series versus Cleveland on Friday, notched their 101st win with a 2-1 victory on Friday night.

Josh Reddick homered and Marwin Gonzalez delivered a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning as Houston improved to a major league-best 55-23 on the road and beat the Orioles for the 12th time in the past 13 meetings. Astros right-hander Justin Verlander, the AL leader with a career-high 280 strikeouts, goes for his 17th win when he opposes Dylan Bundy, who is trying to avoid his 17th loss in Game 1 of the twin bill. Baltimore set a dubious record in defeat, becoming the sixth team since 1900 - and first since Detroit in 2003 - to lose 113 games in a season. Adam Jones, likely playing in his final series with the team, accounted for the Orioles' lone run with his second RBI double in as many games.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), MASN (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Justin Verlander (16-9, 2.60 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Dylan Bundy (8-16, 5.49)

Verlander continued his strikeout binge in a no-decision versus the Los Angeles Angels last Saturday, fanning 11 and allowing one hit over six scoreless innings in a no-decision. The 35-year-old won his previous three starts, going seven innings in each while allowing four runs on 12 hits with 29 strikeouts. Verlander has been superb on the road, posting a 12-2 record and 2.28 ERA in 14 starts.

Bundy suffered his 16th loss - one more than the past two years combined - after giving up four runs over just three innings at Boston on Monday. He ended a streak of 12 straight games with a homer allowed in his previous turn versus Toronto but took the loss with five runs (two earned) allowed in 6 2/3 innings. Bundy pitched six innings of two-run ball (one earned) at Houston on April 4.

WALK-OFFS

1. Astros RH Roberto Osuna has converted all 12 save chances since joining the team.

2. Orioles 1B Chris Davis, batting .168 and mired in a 1-for-37 slump over his last 10 games, is expected to sit out the series.

3. Gonzalez has reached safely in 11 straight games.

PREDICTION: Astros 5, Orioles 2