Cade Povich is the starting pitcher tonight. Through three starts, he’s been participating in the Orioles rotation’s “be better in August” initiative, although in his case, “be better” is still a 4.32 ERA over three games, which isn’t all that good. He gave up three runs in five innings against this Astros team back in Houston last weekend.

Six days ago, the Orioles’ Brandon Young nearly pitched a perfect game against the Astros. Thursday, he allowed seven runs and left with an injury.

Lance McCullers Jr. returns from a blister to start against the Baltimore Orioles as the Houston Astros go for a second win in a row.

The Astros have signed Craig Kimbrel to a major league contract, and the veteran reliever reported to the team in Baltimore on Friday.

Samuel Basallo wasn’t in the lineup Friday. He had more important business to tend to earlier in the day. The 21-year-old top prospect and the Orioles finalized a long-term contract extension — the first of the Mike Elias era — in the afternoon.

Cristian Javier (1-1, 3.38) makes his third start in return from Tommy John surgery as the Houston Astros go for a third win in a row against the Baltimore Orioles. Javier's second start was cut short by illness. Dean Kremer (9-9, 3.97) starts for Baltimore.