Toronto Blue Jays (12-10, second in the AL East) vs. Houston Astros (10-11, fourth in the AL West)
Houston; Monday, 8:10 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Blue Jays: Kevin Gausman (2-1, 2.49 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, 20 strikeouts); Astros: Hunter Brown (2-1, 1.50 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 22 strikeouts)
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -139, Blue Jays +118; over/under is 7 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros open a three-game series at home against the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday.
Houston has a 6-6 record in home games and a 10-11 record overall. The Astros have a 3-0 record in games when they hit two or more home runs.
Toronto has a 4-5 record on the road and a 12-10 record overall. The Blue Jays have the fourth-best team batting average in MLB play at .259.
Monday's game is the first time these teams square off this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Cam Smith ranks third on the Astros with four extra base hits (a triple and three home runs). Isaac Paredes is 9-for-36 with three home runs and seven RBI over the last 10 games.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has six doubles, a home run and 10 RBI while hitting .305 for the Blue Jays. Bo Joseph Bichette is 14-for-45 with four doubles over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Astros: 5-5, .245 batting average, 3.82 ERA, outscored opponents by seven runs
Blue Jays: 5-5, .252 batting average, 3.50 ERA, outscored by six runs
INJURIES: Astros: Spencer Arrighetti: 15-Day IL (thumb), Luis Garcia: 60-Day IL (elbow), Cristian Javier: 60-Day IL (elbow), Shawn Dubin: 15-Day IL (shoulder), J.P. France: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Taylor Trammell: 10-Day IL (calf), Kaleb Ort: 15-Day IL (oblique), Pedro Leon: 10-Day IL (knee), Lance McCullers Jr.: 15-Day IL (forearm)
Blue Jays: Nick Sandlin: 15-Day IL (back), Max Scherzer: 15-Day IL (lat), Erik Swanson: 15-Day IL (hand), Ryan Matthew Burr: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Daulton Varsho: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Alek Manoah: 60-Day IL (elbow), Angel Bastardo: 60-Day IL (elbow)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Associated Press
