The Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros will play on Wednesday at Minute Maid Park. Game two of the AL Wild Card series starts at 2:32 p.m. ET.
Detroit (87-76 SU, 89-74 RL and 79-79-5 O/U) is potentially using an opener in game two. Right-hander Reese Olson would get the bulk of the innings, in that case.
Houston (88-74 SU, 83-79 RL and 65-91-6 O/U) hasn't named a probable pitcher, either. Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi is rumored as the Astros' starting pitcher for game two.
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Tigers are one win from advancing
Detroit finished the regular season on a historic hot streak, winning 31 of its last 46 games to clinch its first playoff berth since 2014. The Tigers appeared out of the hunt not too long ago, but got hot at the right time, taking advantage of the Twins' second-half collapse. Will they continue to excel when the lights are brighter this postseason?
The Tigers won game one behind starter Tarik Skubal's dominant performance. The leading candidate for the AL Cy Young award held the Astros scoreless in six innings and Detroit scored three runs in the second inning. Houston threatened late, but the terrific Tigers bullpen held them off.
Olson went 4-8 with a 3.53 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 22 starts this year. He was 1-4 with a 3.51 ERA and 1.20 WHIP on the road (13 starts). In his last outing, the second-year MLB pro allowed two runs on four hits in four innings against Tampa Bay. The Tigers' bullpen was one of the best in baseball this season, ranking 5th in ERA (3.55).
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Houston needs more from its offense
Houston earned its seventh AL West division title in the last eight years with a strong second-half showing. The Astros turned it on in June and stole the division from Seattle, going 63-40 over the last four months of the season. After dropping game one, can they bounce back to force a game three of the series?
Houston has been one of the top offensive teams in baseball since the start of June, ranking 9th in wOBA (.322), 7th in wRC+ (112) and 5th in BABIP (.305). It also ranked 1st in ERA (3.44), 2nd in K/9 (9.64) and 2nd in opponent BA (.222) during that timeframe.
Kikuchi is expected to toe the rubber for Houston in game two. The veteran left-hander was acquired from Toronto at the trade deadline. He went 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in ten starts with the Astros. In his last appearance, he allowed two runs (zero earned) on four hits with eight strikeouts in six frames versus Seattle. He is 1-2 with a 6.21 ERA in six career appearances against Detroit. He allowed nine runs in two starts (8.0 IP) against the Tigers earlier this season.
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Best Bets for Detroit Tigers vs. Houston Astros
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
The Tigers took game one, which I predicted, as Skubal did his job and the lineup produced an early lead for him. That was a must-win game for Detroit, which now has the upper hand in the three-game series. Will the visitors build off their momentum on Wednesday?
The Tigers have felt confident at the plate during their hot stretch, scoring however they can and leaving the rest up to their pitching. That will be the formula again tomorrow. If they can get out to another early lead, watch out — the Detroit bullpen has been fantastic over the past month-plus. Houston is the ballclub with the pressure on it, not the other way around.
I expect Detroit to play well, ending the Astros' playoff run in only two games.
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
The Tigers got on the board early but were held in check for the remainder of Tuesday's game. I don't expect that to happen again tomorrow after the Astros dug into their bullpen, using their closer Josh Hader in a losing effort. Detroit knows how impactful Wednesday's game is to their playoff dreams, as a series-deciding game three would be tough to win on the road.
Houston wasn't able to get going in game one, but this lineup has been one of the best in baseball all season. The Tigers won't have a Cy Young candidate on the mound tomorrow, and they will use several relievers in game one, as Skubal couldn't last seven or more innings. In a must-win scenario, I predict a breakout performance from the home team, leading to a higher-scoring game.
