Series Preview: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Houston Astros 7/1-7/4

The Toronto Blue Jays will take on the Houston Astros for four games this week. The Blue Jays are coming off a series split with the Yankees while the Astros are coming off a series win over the Mets.

Toronto Blue Jays (38-45) vs. Houston Astros (42-41)

Game 1:

Date: Monday, July 1
Time: 3:07 pm EST
Broadcast: Sportsnet

Game 2:

Date: Tuesday, July 2
Time: 7:07 pm EST
Broadcast: Sportsnet

Game 3:

Date: Wednesday, July 3
Time: 7:07 pm EST
Broadcast: Sportsnet

Game 4:

Date: Thursday, July 4
Time: 1:07 pm EST
Broadcast: Sportsnet

Probable Starting Pitchers

Game 1: Yariel Rodriguez (0-2, 5.94 ERA) vs. Hunter Brown (5-5, 4.37 ERA)

Rodriguez gets the series started, he is 0-2 with a 5.94 ERA, a 4.84 FIP, a 1.92 WHIP, a 5.9 BB/9, and a 9.2 K/9 in 16.2 innings. He last pitched against the Red Sox going only one inning, prior to that he made his return from the injured list against the Guardians going 1.1 innings giving up five runs, four earned on two hits; he walked three and struck out one. The Blue Jays are 3-2 in games he starts. Brown goes for the Astros he is 5-5 with a 4.37 ERA, a 4.19 FIP, a 1.37 WHIP, a 3.6 BB/9, and a 10.0 K/9 in 80.1 innings. In his last five starts, he is 4-0 with a 1.16 ERA, a 0.94 WHIP, and 36 strikeouts in 31 innings: he’s a big part of the Astros turnaround. In games he starts Houston is 6-10.

Game 2: Jose Berrios (7-6, 3.38 ERA) vs. Spencer Arrighetti (4-6, 5.68 ERA)

Berrios gets the second game, he is 7-6 with a 3.38 ERA, a 4.96 FIP, a 1.11 WHIP, a 2.3 BB/9, and a 6.6 K/9 in 104 innings. In his last start, he faced the Yankees going seven innings giving up two runs on two hits; he walked three and struck out eight. The Blue Jays are 11-6 in games he starts. Arrighetti gets the ball for the Astros he is 4-6 in his rookie season with a 5.68 ERA, a 4.25 FIP, a 1.60 WHIP, a 4.8 BB/9, and a 10.4 K/9 in 65 innings. In his last five starts, he is 1-1 with a 5.06 ERA, a 1.50 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts in 21.1 innings. The Astros are 7-7 when he starts.

Game 3: Yusei Kikuchi (4-8, 4.18 ERA) vs. Ronel Blanco (8-3, 2.49 ERA)

Kikuchi gets the ball in the third game for the Blue Jays, he is 4-8 with a 4.18 ERA, a 3.52 FIP, a 1.31 WHIP, a 2.1 BB/9, and a 9.5 K/9 in 88.1 innings. In his last start, he faced the Yankees going five innings giving up four runs on four hits; he walked one and struck out seven. In games he starts Toronto is 5-12. Ronel Blanco goes for Houston, he is 8-3 with a 2.49 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP, a 3.7 BB/9, and 8.4 K/9 in 90.1 innings. In his last start, he went 5.2 innings giving up six runs, three earned, on three hits; he walked three and struck out five. In games he starts this season Houston is 11-4.

Game 4: Chris Bassitt (7-6, 3.24 ERA) vs. Framber Valdez (6-5, 4.11 ERA)

Bassitt gets the finale for Toronto he is 7-6 with a 3.24 ERA, a 1.37 WHIP, and 91 strikeouts in 91.1 innings. Bassitt in his last start faced the Yankees going six innings giving up one run, unearned on six hits; he walked one and struck out eight. This season when he starts Toronto is 8-9. Valdez gets the finale he is 6-5 with a 4.11 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, and 68 strikeouts in 85.1 innings. In his last start, he faced the Mets going 4.2 innings giving up six runs on ten hits; he walked three and struck out five. In games he starts the Astros are 7-7.

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Houston Astros Leaders

Blue Jays:

AVG – Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – .297
HR – Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 13
RBI – Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 50
IP – Jose Berrios – 104.0
ERA – Chris Bassitt – 3.24
K – Yusei Kikuchi – 93

Astros:

AVG – Jose Altuve – .304
HR – Kyle Tucker – 19
RBI – Yordan Alvarez – 41
IP – Ronel Blanco– 90.1
ERA – Ronel Blanco – 2.49
K – Hunter Brown – 89

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Houston Astros Numbers

Blue Jays

AVG: .237 (19)
OPS: .692 (18)
R: 334 (22)
HR: 75 (25)
ERA: 4.26 (22)
K: 649 (26)
WHIP: 1.29 (20)

Astros

AVG: .264 (1)             
OPS: .745 (5)
R: 378 (12)
HR: 96 (8)
ERA: 4.09 (18)
K: 702 (16)
WHIP: 1.31 (22)

Wrap Up

The Blue Jays managed to come away with a split against the struggling Yankees. However, things will be different this series with the Astros playing great baseball and getting back into the playoff race as well as the division race having won nine of their last ten and were 7-0 entering their Mets series before dropping the opener. The Blue Jays will have three of their top arms in this series, but the Astros counter with their top healthy arms. This will be far from an easy series for the Blue Jays.