Series 28 (of 52) Preview: Astros visit Toronto

The Houston Astros travel to Toronto for four dates with the only Canadian team, the Blue Jays.

The Astros and Blue Jays don’t have a very long history of playing each other. With only 75 games, Toronto is Houston’s least played opponent. Houston leads the series, 41-34, with no playoff meetings.

The last time Houston and Toronto played each other was April 1-3 earlier this season. Houston won two of three while outscoring the Bluebirds by a composite score of 19-2. In the series finale, Cristian Javier (1-0, 0.00) walked five but gave up only one hit and struck out three in five scoreless innings. The quartet of Seth Martinez, Rafael Montero, Tayler Scott and Dylan Coleman each pitched a hitless inning, walking two and striking out four between them. Offensively, Yordan Alvarez homered twice (1, 2), and Jose Altuve (3) and Jeremy Peña (2) also chipped in in Houston’s 8-0 victory. Alvarez totaled four hits, adding a single and a double to the scoresheet. Kyle Tucker, Yainer Díaz, Chas McCormick and Peña also each had a multi-hit effort.

That’s what makes him tough. He doesn’t really have a weakness other than his four-seam. I don’t even consider that a weakness, but I don’t have a four-seam. It’s tough. — Chris Bassitt, opposing starter

The Astros are coming off a three-game series victory over the New York Mets. After losing the first game, Houston came back to win the final two games of the set to climb above .500 for the first time in 2024. In the final, it took Houston 11 innings to come away with a win of 10-5. Tayler Scott (4-2, 1.49) picked up the win in relief. Houston beat New York by a factor of three, going 15 to the Mets’ five. Yainer Diaz and Jon Singleton had three hits each, including Singleton’s sixth home run of the season. José Altuve was sent off for reasons, but not the right ones.

I know we were down, but we weren’t out. And I’m not surprised that we’re where we are. We’re going to keep fighting to get to where I know this team is going to get to. — Joe Espada

Toronto is coming off two of three losses to the New York Yankees, including an 8-1 loss yesterday. The Jays had just four hits, while starter Kevin Gausman (6-7, 4.75 ERA) allowed seven runs in four innings. ¹⁄₃ sleeves.

Obviously we’re not playing at the level we’d like to, but there’s nothing we can do but keep showing up. —Gausman

Starting Pitchers and Game Schedules

Monday, 2:07 p.m. CT: Hunter Brown (5-5, 4.37) vs. Yariel Rodríguez (0-2, 5.94)
Tuesday, 6:07 p.m. CT: Spencer Arrighetti (4-6, 5.68) vs. José Berríos (7-6, 3.38)
Wednesday, 6:07 p.m. CT: Ronel Blanco (8-3, 2.49) vs. TBD
Thursday, 12:07 p.m. CT: Framber Valdez (7-6, 3.24) vs. Chris Bassitt (7-6, 3.24)