GDT: 6/26/09 - DET (41-31) at HOU (33-37) - 8:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- Jim Leyland says the same thing about Ivan Rodriguez now that he said when he managed the future Hall of Famer.

"He played hard, he played hurt, and he'd come to beat the other team," Leyland said Thursday.

He still does that now with the Astros. Only now, he's coming to beat the Tigers, who go to Houston with a seven-game winning streak and a three-city road trip awaiting them as they try to take some of their home success with them.

Though Rodriguez came to Comerica Park last September as a member of the Yankees for a makeup game against the Tigers, giving him a chance to compete against his old team, this feels different. He has truly moved on in his career now, signing with Houston and breaking the Major League record for games caught that many wondered if he'd have a chance to reach.

The Tigers were happy for him when he got it earlier this month. Still, Leyland hadn't been in touch with Rodriguez since that milestone.

"I hadn't really called him to congratulate him yet," Leyland said, "because I knew we were going down there, so I was going to do it personally."

Instead, Rodriguez beat him to it, calling Leyland a couple days ago and leaving a voice message. Leyland returned the call but couldn't reach him, essentially resulting in phone tag ahead of their visit.

Leyland's looking forward to seeing his former catcher. Though they parted ways at last summer's Trade Deadline seeing things differently -- Rodriguez wanting more playing time behind the plate, the Tigers looking to play him part-time and not re-sign him at season's end -- their mutual respect remains. It probably always will.

"Some people felt that maybe he was selfish," Leyland said, "and I can tell you that I wouldn't give you a nickel for any player that wasn't a little bit selfish. I have the utmost respect. I like him, and what he has accomplished is unbelievable. And to still look as young as he does, with the physique he has at that age after taking that beating [behind the plate] -- and he took a beating and never complained -- this guy's been fantastic, I'm telling you.

"We had a couple disagreements, pretty heated disagreements, but those are the best kind to have, because I think that means you care about each other, when you can turn the page. I care about Pudge, and I think Pudge cares about me."

The series features a reunion on the other side, too, with shortstop Adam Everett returning to Houston for the first time since he was the Astros' starting shortstop two years ago. He admitted it'll be interesting, but it won't be overwhelming for him.

Of bigger concern for the Tigers will be continuing their recent roll. A victory Friday would mark their longest winning streak since early in the 2007 season. With Justin Verlander back on the mound, they have their best chance.

Unlike every previous turn in the Tigers rotation, the Tigers won't have Verlander and Edwin Jackson going back-to-back. But they'll still have Verlander and Jackson pitching in this series, with rookie Alfredo Figaro making his second Major League start in the middle game.

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Justin Verlander (8-3, 3.31 ERA)
The Tigers broke up the back-to-back tandem of Verlander and Jackson to help out a rotation that has two rookie starters, but the break means little for teams that have to face Verlander these days. His eighth win in his last 11 outings, 10 of them quality starts, saw him overcome a first-inning home run to hold down the Brewers for 7 2/3 innings and outpitch budding star Yovani Gallardo on Sunday at Comerica Park. He continues to build on his Major League strikeout lead, but his pitch counts are allowing him to work deeper into games. His one career matchup with the Astros saw him outpitch Andy Pettitte for eight scoreless innings and seven strikeouts on June 28, 2006, in Detroit.

HOU: LHP Wandy Rodriguez (6-6, 3.18 ERA)
Rodriguez is coming off perhaps his best start of the season, holding the Minnesota Twins to two hits and one run while striking out eight batters in seven innings Sunday. He snapped his four-game losing streak with his first win since May 20, allowing just one hit in the first 22 batters he faced. Rodriguez has faced the Tigers only once previously, and it wasn't pretty. He gave up 10 hits and seven earned runs in 6 2/3 innings in an 8-5 loss on June 26, 2006, in Detroit.

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Tidbits

... This will mark the Tigers' first regular-season series at Minute Maid Park. They played two exhibition games there at the end of Spring Training in 2008.
... The Tigers are one of three Major League teams to have three players with at least 15 home runs each this year. Curtis Granderson and Brandon Inge have 17 each, followed by Miguel Cabrera at 15.
... The Tigers own a 50-18 record in Interleague Play since the start of the 2006 season.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Saturday: Tigers (Alfredo Figaro, 1-0, 3.60 ERA) at Astros (Felipe Paulino, 1-4, 6.18 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 6-4, 2.40 ERA) at Astros (Russ Ortiz, 3-3, 3.47 ERA), 2:05 p.m. ET
• Monday: Tigers (Rick Porcello, 8-4, 3.55 ERA) at Athletics (Vin Mazzaro, 2-2, 2.56 ERA), 10:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS

1. Granderson, CF
   
2. Polanco, 2B
   
3. Cabrera, 1B
   
4. Thames, LF
   
5. Inge, 3B
   
6. Ordonez, RF
   
7. Laird, C
   
8. Everett, SS
   
9. Verlander, P
   

Houston

1. Bourn, CF
   
2. Keppinger, 3B
   
3. Tejada, SS
   
4. Lee, C, LF
   
5. Berkman, 1B
   
6. Pence, RF
   
7. Rodriguez, I, C
   
8. Matsui, K, 2B
   
9. Rodriguez, W, P
   

100 degrees on Friday for a high


Temps in the low 90's by first pitch; Humid!


Better close that roof

Hot Weather Warning!

I wanna see

LOTSA hot bats!

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to center fielder Michael Bourn.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, shortstop Miguel Tejada to first baseman Lance Berkman.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera homers (16) on a fly ball to left field.
DET 1, HOU 0

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Marcus Thames walks.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Brandon Inge walks. Marcus Thames to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez flies out to right fielder Hunter Pence.

DET 1, HOU 0

Bottom Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Michael Bourn swinging.

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Jeff Keppinger singles on a fly ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

Runners at Corners! CMON JUSTIN!!

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Miguel Tejada singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Jeff Keppinger to 3rd.

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Carlos Lee pops out to second baseman Placido Polanco.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Lance Berkman walks. Miguel Tejada to 2nd.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Hunter Pence swinging

DET 1, HOU 0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Gerald Laird pops out to shortstop Miguel Tejada.

B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Adam Everett doubles (9) on a line drive to left fielder Carlos Lee.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Justin Verlander swinging.

B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson walks.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Placido Polanco homers (4) on a fly ball to left field. Adam Everett scores. Curtis Granderson scores.
DET 4, HOU 0

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera swinging.

DET 4, HOU 0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Ivan Rodriguez called out on .

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Kazuo Matsui grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.