HOUSTON — When Houston Manager A.J. Hinch called to welcome Justin Verlander to the team, the pitcher’s first question was when he’d make his debut for the Astros.

The answer is Tuesday at Seattle after the Astros orchestrated a last-minute deal with the Detroit Tigers late Thursday night to acquire the right-hander and bolster their rotation just before the deadline for having players eligible for postseason play.

The trade gives the AL West leaders a powerful 1-2-3 punch at the top of their rotation with 2015 Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers pairing with Verlander, who won the AL Cy Young and MVP awards in 2011. The six-time All Star is 10-8 with a 3.82 ERA in 28 starts this season.

RANGERS: Adrian Beltre has a Grade 2 strain in his left hamstring and will be sidelined for at least four weeks.

Texas boosted its rotation late Thursday night, acquiring veteran right-handed Miguel Gonzalez from the White Sox for minor league infielder Ti’Quan Forbes.

ANGELS: The team acquired infielder Brandon Phillips from the Atlanta late Thursday night, just hours after getting outfielder Justin Upton from Detroit.

With a new second baseman and a new left fielder, Los Angeles addressed its two most problematic positions heading into the final month of the season. The 36-year-old Phillips was in his first season with Atlanta, which acquired him in the offseason after 11 productive years in Cincinnati. He was solid for the Braves, batting .291 with 11 homers and 52 RBI.

TIGERS: Right-hander Michael Fulmer will miss at least two starts with recurring numbness in his pitching hand, a problem that’s bothered him most of the season.


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