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Keuchel to make 1st start in 8 weeks Friday vs. Tigers

Rick Osentoski / USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Astros will get a welcome boost Friday when they face the Detroit Tigers, as staff ace Dallas Keuchel, who hasn't pitched for Houston in eight weeks due to a neck injury, will return to the mound for the first time since June 2, according to Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle.

"It feels a little weird to actually have my name penciled in for a major-league start," Keuchel told MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. "I've been looking forward to this for a while.

"It's one of those things where the excitement's really building and I didn't want to let myself get too excited, but at the same time, I feel great with how I've progressed and what I've done with the two (rehab) starts so it's go time."

Keuchel was placed on the 10-day disabled list because of the neck issue for the second time this season on June 8, a day after he was unexpectedly scratched just minutes before first pitch.

Before missing nearly two months with the injury, Keuchel was a perfect 9-0, crafting a minuscule 1.67 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in 11 starts in 2017.

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