The struggling, rebuilding Astros fell to 10-30 on Tuesday, defeated 6-2 by the Tigers at Comerica Park.

It was the Astros’ sixth consecutive loss and 12th in 14 games. The club is 0-6 this season against Detroit and has lost 10 series in 13 matchups.

The Astros’ record through 40 games is the worst in franchise history, “besting” teams that in 1967 and 1975 began 13-27. The last MLB club to start a year 10-30 was the 2006 Royals, who finished 62-100.

Asked about his squad’s upside-down record, first-year manager Bo Porter said his young team should be motivated simply by being in the major leagues.

“This here is an opportunity to play the game that you all love. … It’s like I explained to the guys: ‘You should be honored to be here and respect the game to the point where you’re motivated to play every day,’ ” Porter said.

The Astros took a 2-0 second-inning lead following a J.D. Martinez RBI double down the left-field line and a Jimmy Paredes sacrifice fly. The club recorded just two more hits and didn’t score again.

The Tigers (22-15) didn’t touch Astros starting righthander Lucas Harrell until the fifth inning. But Harrell (3-4, 5.11 ERA) walked off the mound having given up seven hits, five runs and three walks in five-plus innings.

The Astros’ No. 2 starter said he thought he threw solid pitches overall and credited a Tigers offense that racked up five runs and six hits in the fifth and sixth frames combined. Harrell wasn’t pleased with the Astros’ shift-heavy defense, though, which has been criticized by several starters this season.

“We’re trying to do stuff with our defense right now, and it really worked against me,” Harrell said.

Elmore relishes 2nd shot at bigs

Jake Elmore woke up Tuesday planning to play for Class AAA Oklahoma City in an 11:05 a.m. game against Salt Lake City.

A phone call from RedHawks manager Tony DeFrancesco changed that. Soon, Elmore was flying to Detroit to fill in for All-Star Jose Altuve at second base.

At about1:45 p.m., Elmore arrived at Comerica Park via taxi. He found his name in the starting lineup, prepared to hit second off Tigers righthanded starter Doug Fister and reminded himself that staying in the big leagues is more important than simply returning.

“The jitters aren’t quite as bad as the first time. That first time on the plane ride, my palms were soaking wet,” said Elmore, who hit .300 with 15 RBIs this season at OKC and made his MLB debut in 2012 with Arizona. “You dream about it your whole life. Now that you’ve been here, you want to just work hard and try and stay. That’s the difference. As opposed to being wide-eyed, now you’re working towards something.”

With Altuve dealing with the death of his grandmother in Venezuela and out until Saturday, Elmore is expected to play second at least three games.

“We’re going to give these at-bats to Elmore,” Astros manager Bo Porter said. “He’s played well in Triple-A, and it’s an opportunity for us to get a chance to see him.”

Back has Norris ‘day-to-day’

Astros No. 1 starter Bud Norris is scheduled to pitch Sunday at Pittsburgh. But the righthander said Tuesday the lower half of his back was “locked up” and acknowledged being “definitely day-to-day” after suffering lower back spasms during a loss Monday to the Tigers.

“Hopefully the prognosis gets better each and every day,” manager Bo Porter said.

Odds and ends

Righthander Jordan Lyles will start Friday against the Pirates. Lefty Erik Bedard, who will receive extra rest, will take the mound Saturday. … The Astros again started J.D. Martinez, Robbie Grossman and Jimmy Paredes in the outfield. … The highest batting average in the Astros’ starting lineup Tuesday against Detroit belonged to shortstop Marwin Gonzalez (.269).

Photo: Duane Burleson / Getty Images

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May 15: Astros 7, Tigers 5

Brandon Barnes goes up against the wall to catch a fly ball hit by Miguel Cabrera for the final out.

May 15: Astros 7, Tigers 5

Brandon Barnes goes up against the wall to catch a fly ball hit by Miguel Cabrera for the final out.

Photo: Duane Burleson / Getty Images

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Brandon Barnes leads the team during their postgame handshakes after defeating Detroit in the series finale.

Brandon Barnes leads the team during their postgame handshakes after defeating Detroit in the series finale.