O's game blog: Wright Jr. faces Verlander in Game 2 in Houston

HOUSTON - As the Orioles offense looks to break out tonight in Houston, the challenge on this Tuesday is vast. They face right-hander Justin Verlander, who has been brilliant since the Astros acquired him in a deal with Detroit last Aug. 31.

Verlander made his season debut and got the win Thursday at Texas when he allowed four hits over six scoreless in a 4-1 victory. That night Verlander became the 18th pitcher in major league history to make 10 career opening day starts. That lists includes two other active pitchers in Seattle's Felix Hernandez and CC Sabathia of New York.

Between the Tigers and Astros in 2017, the right-hander was 15-8 with a 3.36 ERA over 33 starts. He finished fifth in the Cy Young vote, an award he won along with the league MVP in 2011.

Verlander has been quite the addition for Houston. In six regular-season starts for the club he is 6-0 with an ERA of 0.90 allowing just 21 hits over 40 innings. In 12 games counting the postseason, he has gone 10-1 with a 1.53 ERA, walking 15 with 86 strikeouts over 76 2/3 innings. He was the MVP of the 2017 American League Championship Series and got two wins against the Yankees, allowing one run over 16 innings.

Verlander made one start last season versus Baltimore and got a win, allowing two runs over seven innings. He has made 19 career starts and is 10-5 with a 3.71 ERA and 1.174 WHIP over 128 2/3 innings.

His mound opponent is Orioles' right-hander Mike Wright Jr. Tonight, he is making his first major league start since June 17, 2016. That night he allowed eight runs over 3 2/3 versus Toronto at Camden Yards.

Every appearance he made last season, 13 of them for the Orioles, came out of the bullpen. Wright went 0-0 with a 5.76 ERA in 25 innings. He has made 43 career appearances and 21 starts, going 6-9 with a 5.86 ERA and 1.455 WHIP. As a starter only, he has gone 5-9 with a 6.32 ERA.

O's batters are hitting just .134 (17-for-127) during the 1-3 start. Adam Jones and Manny Machado both have three hits each - and that is tied for the team lead. Opponent starting pitchers have thrown 27 scoreless innings versus the Orioles in the four games allowing just eight hits.

The Orioles have been outscored 17-0 in the first six innings of their first four games. They've scored six total runs.

The defending World Series champion, Houston has won four of its first five. That is its best start since 2005 when they were also 4-1. Houston has won six straight home openers, after last night's 6-1 victory. Astros starting pitchers have an ERA of 1.78 through five games.

Triple-A Norfolk has announced the order for its season-opening pitching rotation. It will be right-hander Yefry Ramirez starting the opener, followed by David Hess, Jimmy Yacabonis, Jayson Aquino and Tim Melville.