Astros expect offense to ignite in opener vs. Tigers

A pair of shootout victories set the table for the Houston Astros to claim a three-game series sweep over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday, but in a surprising twist, their offense dried up.

The Astros dropped the finale 4-0 and capped a six-game road trip through Anaheim and Kansas City at 3-3. In desperate pursuit of the momentum needed to climb back into the thick of the American League West title chase, the Astros will begin a six-game homestand on Monday with the opener of a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers.

Before stumbling on Sunday, Houston scored a combined 18 runs on Friday and Saturday. Yordan Alvarez slugged two of the Astros' four home runs in the series opener, both in the first inning. Christian Walker and Brice Matthews also went deep to provide Alvarez support, and both homered again on Saturday as Houston rode out a rain delay en route to an 8-7 comeback win.

Jake Meyers and Jose Altuve joined the homer parade on Saturday, confirming the notion that the Astros are more than Alvarez, whose brilliant campaign is fueling AL MVP consideration.

"Contributions from everyone," Astros manager Joe Espada said.

Right-hander Kai-Wei Teng (3-5, 3.71 ERA) is scheduled to start the series opener for the Astros on Monday.

Teng has dropped back-to-back decisions, including a 10-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels last Tuesday after allowing seven runs (five earned) on seven hits and three walks with five strikeouts across four innings. Since winning consecutive starts last month, Teng is 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA over his last three starts, with 17 hits and nine walks allowed across 14 innings.

Teng will make his first career appearance against the Tigers.

Right-hander Troy Melton (3-0, 2.81 ERA) has the starting assignment for the Tigers.

Melton won a second consecutive start last Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins despite logging a season-low five innings while allowing season highs in hits (eight) and runs (four) in the Tigers' 10-4 victory. He had surrendered a total of four runs in his previous three starts and 20 2/3 innings, posting a 1.74 ERA with nine strikeouts against six walks during that stretch.

Melton will make his second career appearance and first start against the Astros. He worked a perfect inning of relief on Aug. 18, 2025, and recorded one strikeout in the Tigers' 10-0 victory.

After dropping the first two contests of a three-game road series against the Cleveland Guardians this weekend, the Tigers had the series finale on Sunday postponed due to inclement weather. The Guardians and Tigers will play a doubleheader on Sept. 4.

Detroit is 10-20 over its last 30 games, with 13 of those losses coming by three or fewer runs. The Tigers are 7-14 in one-run games this season.

"These close games, execution or a tough mistake here or there, or an extra walk, an extra play, moving up a base somehow, those types of things stand out when you play these close games," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said.