Astros at Blue Jays
As bad as things have gone for the Toronto Blue Jays this season, they could be much worse - just ask the Houston Astros. Toronto looks for its third straight victory Saturday afternoon as it welcomes the visiting Astros. The Blue Jays opened the four-game set by limiting woeful Houston to a pair of hits in a 4-0 win, then stunned the Astros with eight runs in the seventh inning of a 12-6 triumph Friday.
After left-hander Mark Buehrle snapped a cold streak Thursday and the Toronto offense showed signs of life the following night, Josh Johnson aims to find a little good fortune of his own. Johnson is coming off a dreadful performance against the Los Angeles Dodgers and is 0-4 over his last five starts. He'll face off against Dallas Keuchel, who is winless in six straight outings but has pitched far better than Johnson in that span.
TV: 1:07 p.m. ET, CSN (Houston), RSN (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (4-5, 4.42 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Josh Johnson (1-6, 5.66)
Keuchel has been one of the unluckiest pitchers over the past three weeks. The 25-year-old has surrendered just six earned runs over his last three starts, but has had to settle for a no-decision each time. Keuchel has been sensational away from home; he's just 1-2 but has a 3.38 ERA and 31 strikeouts against six walks in 40 road innings.
Johnson continues to pitch himself out of a hefty offseason payday. The free-agent-to-be is coming off his shortest outing of the season after getting pounded for five runs on seven hits over two innings in a 14-5 drubbing at the hands of the Dodgers. Johnson is 0-3 with a 4.88 ERA in 24 career innings against the Astros, but hasn't faced them since May 9 of last season.
WALK-OFFS
1. 2B Jose Altuve is the only Houston player to have faced Johnson, going 0-for-3 lifetime.
2. Blue Jays CF Colby Rasmus is hitting a team-best .382 in July.
3. The Astros have surrendered an American League-high 548 runs, with Toronto (494) a distant second.