Astros seek series edge as Imai faces slumping Marlins
The Houston Astros (48-54) host the Miami Marlins (52-49) on Tuesday, July 21, at Daikin Park in the middle game of a three-game series. Right-hander Tatsuya Imai (5-4, 6.06 ERA) starts opposite Tyler Phillips (2-4, 3.48 ERA) after Houston's 8-5 win Monday snapped a skid while Miami's losing streak hit seven.
Key Takeaways
- The Astros beat Miami 8-5 on Monday after losing four straight and six of seven.
- Tatsuya Imai makes his first second-half start following a rough close to the first half.
- The Marlins entered the series tied for the NL's third wild-card spot but have now dropped seven in a row.
- Yordan Alvarez leads the AL Triple Crown race and homered twice in the series opener.
- First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. CT at Daikin Park in Houston.
What is at stake for the Astros tonight?
Houston is trying to turn Monday's rebound into a series win. The Astros had lost four games in a row and six of seven before the 8-5 interleague victory, according to Sports Illustrated.
Manager Joe Espada sits on 223 managerial wins, 11th in franchise history. His next victory would match Terry Collins at 224 for 10th all-time among Astros skippers.
Offensively, the club ranks first in the AL and second in the majors with 67 first-inning runs. DH Yordan Alvarez enters as the AL Triple Crown leader at .324 with 33 home runs and 75 RBIs, and he also leads baseball in OPS (1.083).
Can Tatsuya Imai regain his form against Miami?
Imai, signed from Japan this offseason, gets his first start of the second half and his first outing in two weeks. He is 5-4 with a 6.06 ERA across 13 MLB starts, with Houston going 8-5 in those games.
The right-hander closed the first half poorly, going 0-1 with a 12.60 ERA over just five innings in his final two starts. In June he was 3-0 with a 5.09 ERA, 30 strikeouts, and five walks in 17 2/3 innings.
CBS Sports notes this will be Imai's first career appearance against the Marlins. In two interleague starts this season, he is 0-1 with a 3.72 ERA. Miami counters with Tyler Phillips (2-4, 3.48 ERA overall; 2-4, 4.91 as a starter), who is making his first career start versus Houston.
Why are the Marlins suddenly sliding?
Miami roared into contention by winning 26 of 34 games from June 1 through July 9, then sat a season-high 10 games over .500. Eleven days later the Marlins are 52-49 and, after Monday's loss, riding a seven-game skid with just 18 runs scored in that stretch.
They entered the Houston series in a three-way tie with the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates for the National League's third wild-card berth. Manager Clayton McCullough said the staff is focused on getting players back to a better brand of baseball.
The clubs last met Aug. 4-6, 2025, in Miami, with the Astros taking two of three. This is Miami's first series in Houston since a July 2024 sweep by Houston. Tuesday's game airs on SCHN at 7:10 p.m. CT.