Overview

• Detroit confirmed Tarik Skubal (11-3, 2.42 ERA) against Houston’s Hunter Brown (10-5, 2.45) for tonight’s start at Comerica Park.
• Brown, a St. Clair Shores native and Wayne State product who trains in Madison Heights, said he expects a large group of familiar faces in the stands.
• Skubal quipped that Brown’s Detroit ties are “cool” but “it’d be cooler if he was wearing our jersey,” and he acknowledged he dislikes pitching opposite elite arms.
• Brown praised Skubal as the reigning Cy Young who “throws a bunch of strikes” and said the Astros will try to jump on him early.
• The All-Star neighbors from July noted that starters never face each other directly, casting this as an indirect duel decided by how each handles the opposing lineup.