The set-up: The Astros got swept in a three-game home series by the Indians over the weekend but still opened the new week with MLB's best record. Four Houston pitchers combined on a one-hitter in Monday's 1-0 victory over the Tigers, as Houston became the first team in the majors to reach 30 wins while also establishing the best 45-game start (30-15) in franchise history. Detroit has now dropped five of its last eight games to fall under .500 at 21-22. Monday's setback occurred in the opener of the team's 11-game road trip.

The pitching matchup: Jordan Zimmermann (4-2 & 6.25 ERA) gets the nod for Detroit and Lance McCullers (4-1 & 2.65). Zimmermann is hoping to begin a turnaround to a season in which he has given up four or more runs in six of his first eight starts. Maybe it will start against Houston, as Zimmermann is 2-2 with a 2.93 ERA in five career starts against the Astros (teams are 3-2). McCullers scattered three hits over six scoreless innings to defeat 3-0 Miami in his last outing (Wednesday). That makes him the the first Houston pitcher to work at least six innings without allowing an earned run in three consecutive starts since Roy Oswalt did it back in 2008. McCullers won his lone career start against Detroit in 2015, when he gave up two runs on six hits in six innings (3.00 ERA).

The pick: McCullers is off to an excellent start in 2017 and here at home, owns a 2.08 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in four starts (he's 2-0 and the team 4-0!). As for Zimmermann, he last faced Houston on April 30, 2014, allowing seven hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over 6 1/3 shutout innings. He's pitched reasonably well at Minute Maid Park with a 3.42 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings over four career starts there. Make the Under an 8* play.