Detroit Tigers at Houston Astros 5/6/22 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Detroit Tigers play the second game of a four-game series on the road Friday against the Houston Astros. Detroit dropped to 8-15 following its 7-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday in the second game of a doubleheader. Detroit won the first game of the twin-bill 3-2. Detroit is fourth in the American League Central, six games behind the first-place Minnesota Twins.

Austin Meadows is batting .299 to lead Detroit and the left fielder has team highs in hits with 23 and on-base percentage at .393. First baseman Spencer Torkelson is the leader in home runs with three and shortstop Javier Baez is the leader in RBIs with 11. On Friday, Detroit will send Beau Brieske to the mound. The right-hander is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA, 6 Ks and 4 BBs.

The Houston Astros improved to 14-11 following a 7-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday. Justin Verlander allowed two runs on five hits across 6 ⅔ innings and improved to 3-1 with a 1.93 ERA. Houston swept Seattle in its three-game series and the Astros have won seven of the last nine. Houston is second in the American League West,1 ½ games behind the first-place Los Angeles Angels. 

Michael Brantley is batting .282 to lead Houston and the designated hitter has a team-high 24 hits. Left fielder Yordan Alvarez is the leader in home runs with eight and on-base percentage at .373, while third baseman Alex Bregman is the leader in RBIs with 16. On Friday, Houston will send Luis Garcia to the mound. The left-hander is 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA, 19 Ks and 5 BBs.