Tigers' age-defying Charlie Morton takes aim at Astros

The Detroit Tigers completed a deal for the second-oldest player in the majors just before the trade deadline. Thus far, Charlie Morton has given the rotation a boost.

Morton, who will start the finale of a three-game series against the visiting Houston Astros on Wednesday afternoon, has delivered two quality starts in three outings for his new team.

On paper, Morton produced his best start of the season on Friday. The 41-year-old right-hander tossed six scoreless innings while allowing just two hits against the Minnesota Twins.

However, Morton had to deal with a rain delay and an extended first inning as his teammates staked him to a 5-0 lead. The Tigers won the game 7-0.

"We were talking through the first three innings, like, we really weren't on the same page," catcher Dillon Dingler said. "He was trying to find a feel for his curveball but we were able to mix in the other pitches. He's got so many great pitches that move so much."

Once Morton was able to control his celebrated curveball, Minnesota batters had no chance.

"I need my breaking ball," Morton said. "So whatever we've got to do, whatever we've got to do to get it going. I know we had a lead, but you still have to get through some innings. My glove-side breaking ball, even when I hit guys or if I'm yanking a couple, it's not the end of the world. But (Friday) early, it was trying to get it going for strikes."

He will face a Houston offense mired in a deep slump. The Astros were shut out four of the past five games. They haven't scored in 28 innings, including 10 empty frames on Tuesday as the Tigers pulled out a 1-0 win.

Morton (8-10, 5.20 ERA) has a 4-6 record and 5.97 ERA in 12 career starts against the Astros. He was also a key member of the Astros during their 2017 championship run, including his four-inning relief stint for the win in Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Framber Valdez (11-6, 3.01 ERA), Morton's mound opponent on Wednesday, cruised through the first four months of the season. It's been a different story in August, during which he is 0-2 with a 5.89 ERA in three starts.

Valdez lasted 6 2/3 innings in his most recent outing against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday. The 31-year-old left-hander gave up four runs (three earned) and nine hits while recording six strikeouts and walking one.

His pitching opponent that night, Brandon Young, had a perfect game going until there were two outs in the eighth.

"I would say 100 percent it affected me," Valdez said. "I felt like I couldn't even sit down and I was already walking up to get out there. Sometimes that's just the game of baseball. Sometimes a pitcher is going to have a better game. Sometimes they're going to throw a perfect game. ... I felt like I couldn't get a drink of water in and I was already out there."

Valdez is 2-2 with a 2.49 ERA in eight career outings against the Tigers, including seven starts.

--Field Level Media