Houston @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 15, 2018 ) Detroit 6, Houston 3

Justin Verlander returns to Comerica Park for the first time as the enemy as the Houston Astros attempt to become the second 90-win team in the major leagues when they visit the Detroit Tigers on Monday for the opener of their three-game series. Verlander went 97-50 with a 3.20 ERA in 187 starts at the ballpark while with Detroit before being dealt to Houston at last year's trade deadline.

A seven-time All-Star who won the American League MVP and Cy Young Award with the Tigers in 2011 and helped the Astros to their first World Series championship last season, Verlander looks to get the AL West leaders back on track after its seven-game winning streak ended with Sunday's 6-5 setback in Boston. Marwin Gonzalez and Jose Altuve homered in the setback for Houston, which saw its division lead over Oakland shrink to 2 1/2 games. Detroit was unable to complete a three-game sweep over St. Louis as it dropped a 5-2 decision on Sunday, halting its four-game winning streak. Ronny Rodriguez drove in one of the Tigers' runs, giving the Dominican rookie 15 RBIs in his last 15 contests.

TV: 6:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), FS Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Justin Verlander (14-9, 2.73 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Francisco Liriano (4-9, 4.90)

Verlander is seeking his second straight victory and fourth in five starts after limiting Minnesota to one run and three hits over seven innings on Tuesday. The 35-year-old Virginian has won each of his last four turns on the road, where he has posted an 11-2 record while going 3-7 at home. Verlander has not been defeated in an opposing ballpark since June 30, when he was tagged for five runs and nine hits over five frames at Tampa Bay.

Liriano halted his string of eight straight losses on Tuesday, when he allowed three runs - two earned - over five innings against the White Sox in Chicago. The 34-year-old Dominican hadn't been victorious since ending his first month of the season with his third win in four decisions, a triumph at Baltimore on April 28. Liriano, who was a teammate of Verlander on Houston's championship team last year, is 2-1 with a 4.37 ERA in four career starts against the Astros.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tigers RF Nicholas Castellanos recorded two of his team's five hits on Sunday, making him 7-for-13 during his four-game hitting streak.

2. Houston 1B Tyler White is coming off a three-game series against Boston during which he went 4-for-10 with four RBIs and three runs scored.

3. Detroit recalled RHP Zac Reininger from Triple-A Toledo while purchasing the contracts of C Jarrod Saltalamacchia and OF Christin Stewart from the Mud Hens, with the latter making his major-league debut on Sunday as a pinch-hitter.

PREDICTION: Astros 7, Tigers 2