Houston @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 4, 2018 ) Baltimore 2, Houston 3

Prior to testing their mettle against baseball's best in the upcoming playoffs, the Houston Astros will conclude the regular season against the majors-worst Baltimore Orioles in the opener of a four-game series on Thursday. The Astros (100-58) need three wins to break the club mark for victories in a season while the Orioles (46-112) set their franchise record in losses with Wednesday's 19-3 drubbing in the opener of a doubleheader versus Boston.

Carlos Correa returned following a six-game absence due to a sore back and had an RBI single in Wednesday's 3-1 setback to Toronto, marking just the fifth loss in 23 contests this month for American League West champion Houston. The 23-year-old had an inside-the-park homer as part of a two-hit, three-RBI performance as the Astros highlighted a three-game sweep of Baltimore with a 10-6 triumph on April 3. The Orioles' fortunes sadly didn't improve from there, and their 6-18 mark in their last 24 contests aren't making them feel any better. Trey Mancini, who is 9-for-26 during his six-game hitting streak, drove in three runs and scored twice during Baltimore's 10-3 win over the Red Sox in Wednesday's nightcap.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), MASN (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Gerrit Cole (15-5, 2.92 ERA) vs. Orioles RH David Hess (3-10, 5.14)
Cole is looking to finish the regular-season with a flourish, as he enters his final start with a 5-0 mark and 3.54 ERA in his past seven outings. The 28-year-old struck out 12 in seven innings of Friday's 11-3 win against the Los Angeles Angels, increasing his total to 65 over his last 40 2/3 frames. Cole will be making his first career appearance versus Baltimore, although Jace Peterson is 3-for-7 and three walks against him.
Hess has received a pair of no-decisions in his last two starts despite surrendering five homers in that stretch and four walks in his last trip to the mound on Saturday. The 25-year-old has permitted 21 homers and 35 walks in 20 outings (96 1/3 innings) this season. Hess will be making his first career start versus Houston.

WALK-OFFS

1. Houston 1B Yuli Gurriel is 19-for-45 with three homers, 15 RBIs and eight runs scored during his 11-game hitting streak.

2. Orioles OF Adam Jones, who had three hits in the nightcap, went 5-for-12 with a homer and four RBIs in the previous series versus the Astros.

3. Houston CF Jake Marisnick has a double and triple with two runs scored during his four-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Astros 7, Orioles 2