Game #33 Preview: Houston Astros (10-22) at Detroit Tigers (18-9)

Houston Astros at Detroit Tigers, May 6, 2014 6:08 PM CDT

TV: CSN Houston, MLB.TV
Radio: KBME 790 AM, KLAT 1010 AM
Tigers SBNation Blog: Bless You Boys

Pitching Matchup:

LHP Brett Oberholtzer (0-5, 5.63 ERA, 1.56 WHIP) vs. LHP Robbie Ray (0-0, -.-- ERA, -.-- WHIP)

Try and try again...

Brett Oberholtzer has taken the mound for the Astros for ten straight games and he has yet to record a win dating 2013. As a matter of fact, he has a record of 0-9 in those ten starts. Obe' has an ERA of 3.25 during those ten games. Oberholtzer leads the major leagues in lowest run-support per start at 1.33 runs per game this season. It's be more understandable why Oberholtzer called out his team in his last start -

"I just think we got to do a better job coming out ready to play," Oberholtzer said. "(You) get the vibe from other teams that they're just ready to come in and beat us and that's frustrating."

The hot Tigers' lineup hasn't face Oberholtzer before as a whole. Former Ranger Ian Kinsler is 1-for-4 with a double.

Robbie Ray is making his first major league start in place of Anibal Sanchez. Ray was part of the trade that sent Doug Fister to Washington. Ray has had his trouble with fastball velocity in his young career, but he has rebounded with constant low-to-mid 90s gas. He worked to improve his sinker and breaking pitches. In Triple-A Toledo this season, Ray is 3-2 with a 1.53 ERA.