Astros at Blue Jays
Things are so bad for Houston Astros left-hander Erik Bedard, he managed to lose a game in which he threw six no-hit innings and struck out 10. Bedard will try to turn things around Thursday night when the visiting Astros take on the reeling Toronto Blue Jays in the opener of a four-game series. The Blue Jays have dropped a season-high seven straight games, including Wednesday's 8-3, 10-inning defeat against Los Angeles in which they were a strike away from victory.
Toronto surrendered 32 runs in its three-game set with the Dodgers, as the starters failed to go deep and the bullpen crumbled under what has become the largest workload in the majors. The Blue Jays seek a much-needed quality start from veteran lefty Mark Buehrle, who is going through his own set of struggles. It's the first meeting between the new American League rivals since May 2011, when the visiting Astros took two of three.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, CSN (Houston), RSN (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Erik Bedard (3-7, 4.41 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Mark Buehrle (5-7, 4.83)
Bedard was unhittable last time out but was done in by five walks and shoddy defense in a 4-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners. It was the fourth consecutive defeat for the Ontario native, who has issued 18 free passes in that stretch. Bedard has struggled in his career against the Blue Jays, going 2-4 with a 5.00 ERA in 63 career innings.
Buehrle is coming off back-to-back losses to division rivals Tampa Bay and Baltimore, surrendering 12 runs over 13 innings in that span. The 34-year-old is in danger of seeing his streak of 12 consecutive seasons with double-digit victories come to an end. Buehrle has made just one career start against the Astros, limiting them to one run over eight innings in a 6-3 victory as a member of the Chicago White Sox in 2007.
WALK-OFFS
1. Houston has won five of six all-time meetings.
2. Melky Cabrera has the most experience against Bedard of any current Toronto player, going 3-for-21 with a homer.
3. Toronto is 7-19 since reeling off a franchise record-tying 11-game winning streak last month.
PREDICTION: Astros 6, Blue Jays 3