The start of the Detroit Tigers’ 10-game road trip has not gone as well as hoped, dropping two straight at the Houston Astros, including a 6-4 loss on Tuesday night. The good guys had a chance in that one, but a blown hold by Will Vest opened the door for defeat.

The good news is that the Motor City Kitties are still atop the American League Central with a 1.5-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians. They are also tied with the New York Yankees for the best record in the AL, with the Seattle Mariners just one win behind in the overall standings.

Meanwhile, Houston trails the Mariners in the West by a full game, having made up ground with its two wins over Detroit.

AJ Hinch and Co. can prevent the second sweep of the 2025 campaign — the first coming in the opening series at the Los Angeles Dodgers — on Wednesday afternoon, but the home team has proven that it will not just roll over for their American League rivals. The matchup features a pair of rookies — an already established Jackson Jobe against AJ Blubaugh, who will be making his major league debut.

Detroit Tigers (18-12) vs. Houston Astros (16-13)

Time (ET): 2:10 p.m.
Place: Daikin Park, Houston, Texas
SB Nation Site: The Crawfish Boxes
Media: FanDuel Sports Detroit, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Game 31 Pitching Matchup

Player

IP

K%

BB%

FIP

fWAR

Player

IP

K%

BB%

FIP

fWAR

Jobe

20.0

17.1

12.2

4.48

0.2

Blubaugh (AAA)

21.0

30.1

10.8

3.42

NA

Game 31: RHP Jackson Jobe (2-0, 2.70 ERA) vs. RHP AJ Blubaugh (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

JOBE

Baseball Savant

Jackson Jobe’s rookie campaign continues

The 22-year-old’s last two outings have been strong, earning wins while allowing just one run on seven hits (no home runs) and three walks while striking out seven over 11 frames. While his strikeout rate is not quite where we would want it to be, he has gotten his walk rate down and has been good enough to put the Tigers in the win column.

AJ Blubaugh’s Baseball Savant Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Cutter: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

“The Horizon League reliever of the year in 2021 and 2022 at Milwaukee, Blubaugh became a starter after the Astros drafted him in the seventh round in the latter year. The transition has gone well, as he performed well in Double-A and the Arizona Fall League to cap his first full pro season and won All-Star accolades and a championship in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in his second. He led the PCL with 12 victories and strikeout rate (24 percent) while ranking second in ERA (3.83) and fourth in strikeouts (128 in 124 2/3 innings).

“Blubaugh operates with a 92-95 mph fastball that tops out at 97 and comes out of a high arm slot with armside run and carry that keeps it off barrels. His most effective secondary pitch is a low-80s changeup with fade and depth. Houston has helped him develop a sweeping low-80s slider that elicits chases but gets pounded when he leaves it over the plate, and he also has an upper-70 curveball with similar issues and a mid-80s cutter.

“A basketball and football standout as an Ohio prepster, Blubaugh has the athleticism to repeat his upright delivery with a long arm action in back. With a little more refinement of his arsenal, control and command, he could be a No. 4 starter in the big leagues. If that doesn’t happen, he’ll likely be a spot starter and multi-inning reliever.”