embers of his squad will have had game time following the Test.Th

DETROIT -- Viable.The Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers see that as their watchword during a three-game weekend series between two resurgent teams seeking to overtake their respective division leaders.Houston trails Texas in the AL West while Detroit is stalking Cleveland in the AL Central. Neither can claim first place by Mondays non-waiver trade deadline, but both will remain contenders regardless of how the series plays out.The Astros are seen as more of a buyer than the Tigers, who are limited by their $200 million payroll and limited trade chips, but neither club will be in sell mode. Detroit may make a minor cosmetic move but Houston would not surprise if it made a nice splash before the trade deadline.Detroit and Houston were off Thursday, a plus for both sides.Tigers manager Brad Ausmus used the day off plus another scheduled break Monday to rearrange his rotation as he awaits the return of injured starters Jordan Zimmermann and Daniel Norris, both of whom will have one final rehab start this week prior to rejoining the staff. He is also using the breaks to push back rookie Michael Fulmer and further limit his starts and innings.Exactly which day Fulmer pitches again has not been determined and may be contingent on where Ausmus wants to slot in Zimmermann and Norris next week.Astros skipper A.J. Hinch has two regulars nursing sore hamstrings -- third baseman Luis Valbuena and center fielder Carlos Gomez. Valbuena was injured Tuesday and Gomez had to come out of Wednesdays game early.Its a mild strain, Gomez told MLB.com. We have the advantage of the off-day (Thursday) and (then) we have a night game. Like I said before, I had it in the past. I know how I feel. I dont think this is going to be something that will take me long to heal. In the past, I have had it worse than that and I was ready in six or seven days, and they put me on the DL. In this case, I dont think its necessary.Valbuena wont play Friday, Hinch said earlier in the week, but is possible for one of the next two games.Its not comfortable when the bench is pretty much empty with the exception of (Evan) Gattis as a pinch-hitter/catcher, Hinch said to MLB.com. Weve got some fortunate timing, if I can call it that, because were expected to put (right-hander Doug) Fister on the paternity leave soon. His wife is going to deliver his first child in the next couple of days, so we might have a transaction in Detroit that will probably be a position player.Fister worked Wednesday, so he wont pitch in Detroit. If hes placed on paternity leave Friday, the Astros can bring up a position player for the weekend.Valbuenas strain is higher in the hamstring than Gomezs, which is just above the back of the knee.Hes unlikely to play Friday, Hinch said of his third baseman, and well assess him on Saturday. Where its located, sort of behind the knee really low, makes for some tricky diagnosis.That would give rookie Alex Bregman, just up from the minors, at least one more start at third. Hes been working out in left field and likely will play the left side of the infield, outfield and do some designated hitting -- if he hits.Right-hander Collin McHugh will pitch for Houston against southpaw Matt Boyd of Detroit.Right-hander Mike Fiers and southpaw Dallas Keuchel will go Saturday and Sunday, respectively, for the Astros while the Tigers counter with right-handers Justin Verlander and Mike Pelfrey.McHugh (7-6, 4.18 ERA) has never beaten Detroit but has only started three times against it, going 0-2 with a 3.72 ERA. He won his last start, against the Los Angeles Angels.Boyd has been a fill-in starter for the Tigers this season and is currently holding place for the return of Zimmermann and Norris He is 1-2 with a 4.63 ERA in eight starts but is 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA over his last three starts. Boyd has started just once against Houston, not getting a decision in a five-inning outing in which he gave up five runs on six hits. Garrett Bradbury Jersey . Colin Wilson had two goals and an assist, and Mike Fisher scored a goal and helped set up two others in the Predators 6-4 victory over the Red Wings on Monday night. Adam Thielen Womens Jersey . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. http://www.authenticvikingspro.com/ . "Theyve both been real good," said Babcock. "Havent changed our minds." A decision has seemingly been made - Sundays Group B-deciding tilt against Finland ahead - but it could not have been an easy one. Price opened the tournament with a sturdy 19-save performance against the Norwegians, yielding just one goal. Mike Hughes Womens Jersey . Ryan Garbutt had a goal and two assists as Dallas snapped a six-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. John Randle Jersey . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. Four new caps have been injected into an overhauled Kiwis team to face Scotland at the Four Nations.Warriors winger David Fusitua is in the starting team while the three other uncapped players are on the interchange for Fridays Test in Workington.Te Maire Martin, James Fisher-Harris and Joseph Tapine will make their debuts off the bench in a match New Zealand must win by 42 points to guarantee a place in the tournament final.There are five personnel changes and a positional switch from the side who lost 14-8 to Australia in Coventry, marking a change to the selection methods of coach David Kidwell, who has kept a stable side through his first three Tests in charge.There are changes on both wings, with Fusitua replacing Jordan Rapana while Jason Nightingale returns from an ankle injury. The veteran St George Illawarra flyer effectively replaces centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall, with Gerard Beale moving in one spot.In a third change to the outside back division, fullback Jordan Kahu makes way for Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, who has played one Test.Forwards Manu Mau and Greg Eastwood are promoted from bench spots to replace Kevin Proctor and Jason TTaumalolo, who are both rested.ddddddddddddKidwell is pleased all 24 members of his squad will have had game time following the Test.The guys making their debuts deserve the opportunity to play. They have worked extremely hard and have been pushing for spots all tour, he said.They are hungry, their effort and attitude in training has shown me that, and theyll bring a lot of energy.While winning by a large margin would boost New Zealands hopes of reaching the final, Kidwell says the teams priority will simply be to win.Scotland have lost both of their games heavily but rattled England early on last week.They have improved every game and if you add that on top of the conditions, we have a tough challenge ahead, Kidwell said.Kiwis: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Jason Nightingale, Solomone Kata, Gerard Beale, David Fusitua, Thomas Leuluai, Shaun Johnson, Jesse Bromwich (capt), Issac Luke, Adam Blair, Manu Mau, Tohu Harris, Greg Eastwood. Interchange: Te Maire Martin, Martin Taupau, James Fisher-Harris, Joseph Tapine. ' ' '