Blue Jays at Astros
The Toronto Blue Jays took two of three from the Chicago White Sox this week but are still hanging off the fringe of contention for an American League wild card spot. The Blue Jays will see how they stack up against the best the AL has to offer when they visit the Houston Astros on Friday for the start of a three-game series.
Toronto is 51-57 and will need to decide soon if it plans to move several veterans who will pass through waivers before the end of this month. The Blue Jays, who are 7-3 in their last 10 games, have veterans like right-hander Marco Estrada, right fielder Jose Bautista and outfielder/first baseman Steve Pearce who would be attractive to a contending team with holes to fill or injury concerns, such as the AL-leading Astros. Houston placed seven players on the disabled list since July 18 and are 1-5 in their last six contests after squandering a lead in a 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in the finale of a four-game series on Thursday. One player filling in well during the injury spell is right-hander Brad Peacock, who will take the mound for the Astros on Friday opposite Toronto's Cesar Valdez.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), TVA Sports, Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Cesar Valdez (1-0, 6.59 ERA) vs. Astros RH Brad Peacock (9-1, 2.62)
Valdez is trying to hold onto a spot in the rotation and was strong in his second start of the season, allowing one run in six innings against Oakland on July 25, before struggling last time out. The Dominican Republic native was ripped for seven runs - six earned - and seven hits over two innings by the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. Valdez worked three innings out of the bullpen at Houston while with Oakland on April 28 and surrendered three runs on four hits and a walk.
Peacock moved into the rotation on May 22 and went 6-1 with a 2.93 ERA in 11 starts before making one more appearance out of the bullpen last Friday at Detroit. The 29-year-old is taking over Lance McCullers Jr's spot in the rotation this time around and is looking to allow two or fewer earned runs for the eighth time in nine appearances. Peacock started at Toronto on July 9 and breezed through six scoreless innings while scattering five hits in a win.
WALK-OFFS
1. Blue Jays C Miguel Montero (groin) is day-to-day.
2. Astros OF George Springer (left quad) is working out on the field, but will not be activated off the disabled list when eligible on Friday.
3. Toronto 3B Josh Donaldson homered in each of the last three games and is 5-for-10 with five RBIs and five runs scored in that span.