Blue Jays Look to Take Three of Four From Astros
An American League showdown will take place in the Lone Star State on Thursday when the Toronto Blue Jays visit the Houston Astros. The current line has Toronto slightly favored at -116, Houston at +108 and the over/under run total sitting on 8.5.
Entering this game, Toronto has a record of 61-47 overall and 29-23 on the road. The Blue Jays are 7-3 over their past 10 games played. Houston on the season has a record of 56-51 overall and 33-23 at home. The Astros are 3-7 over their past 10 games played.
Toronto will send J.A. Happ to the mound on Thursday. The Blue Jays right-hander is 14-3 with an ERA of 3.16. Houston will counter with Mike Fiers. The Astros right-hander is 7-4 with an ERA of 4.42.
Happ has won eight straight decisions. In his past four wins, Happ has given up just two runs. He leads the AL in victories with 14, which is his career high. During his unbeaten streak of nine starts, Happ has an ERA of 2.60.
Fiers pitched a no-decision his last time out despite giving up one unearned run on four hits across 6 plus innings versus Detroit. Fiers has won four of the past five decisions he has had.
This is the fourth and final game of the series between the two teams, with Toronto winning two of three thus far, including Wednesday night’s 3-1 victory. In that win, Josh Donaldson hit two home runs, while Jose Bautista hit one. Troy Tulowitzki has missed all three games for Toronto with an injury.
Toronto sits in second place in the AL East one game behind Baltimore and holds the first wildcard spot. Houston has lost five of its past six games. The Astros are three games behind the Detroit Tigers for the second and final AL wildcard.
Houston has only scored four runs during the first three games of this series and just six runs in its past five games.
Houston left fielder Colby Rasmus is 0 for 13 during the series and has 2 hits in 55 at bats over his past 14 games.
Blue Jays outfielder Michael Saunders has 3 hits in 27 at bats with 16 strikeouts during his past seven games played.
Tulowitzki is day to day for Toronto with a chip fracture of the thumb.
Prediction: The Blue Jays are playing very well and the lean here is toward Toronto.
