The Houston Astros lost the series finale to the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday afternoon 7-2, getting swept in the three-game series. The Tigers held to the Astros to just three runs in the series, and outscored Houston by 15 runs.

Dillon Dingler tripled in a six-run first inning and the Detroit Tigers finished a sweep of the Houston Astros with a 7-2 win on Wednesday. Dingler added a double and scored twice as the Tigers won for the seventh time in eight games.

The Tigers and Astros have met in two wildly different games, despite the same coming out on top. After thumping the Astros 10-0 on Monday night, Detroit and Houston went into extras deadlocked at zero. However, several good at-bats by the Tigers in the 10th inning led to them scoring the game-winning run on a Gleyber Torres.

Tigers' reliever Will Vest compared the Cy Young contenders matchup to watching Pedro Martinez face Roger Clemens.

If J.P. France is ready, the Astros would need to determine both his role and how to create space on a pitching staff with little flexibility.

The Astros are a plucky playoff also-ran without Alvarez. They could potentially be World Series contenders with him, if he can return to peak form. Houston's 2025 season is marred by negative injury news. The return of arguably their best hitter might turn the tide on a turbulent year.

Houston, for the first time since 1985, 40 years ago, has lost three straight games where they were shut out. Three straight games scoring zero runs is a tough look for the Astros, especially as they try to put distance between themselves and the Mariners.

While a team meeting failed to provide an immediate spark Wednesday, the Astros still find themselves in first place despite a rough stretch.