Blue Jays at Astros
The Houston Astros’ offense has been of the boom-or-bust variety of late, and Friday was a big boom. The Astros will try to make it two straight offensive eruptions when they host the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday for the second contest of their three-game series.
Houston pounded out 14 runs in a win over Tampa Bay on Monday but totaled seven in dropping the next three games before finding the form again and ripping its way to a 16-7 triumph on Friday. Alex Bregman and Marwin Gonzalez each homered during a nine-run fourth inning while Tyler White had his best game since being recalled late last month, allowing four hits and a pair of home runs. The Blue Jays, who sit in last place in the American League East, dropped to 51-58 with the loss and reportedly are pushing their veteran players through revocable waivers as they reassess the future. One veteran reportedly going through waivers is right-hander Marco Estrada, who takes the mound for Toronto on Saturday against Houston’s Charlie Morton.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Toronto), AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Marco Estrada (4-7, 5.19 ERA) vs. Astros RH Charlie Morton (9-4, 3.77)
If Estrada is going to be dealt this month, then he is raising his asking price with every strong outing. The California native is winless in his last 11 turns but has allowed a total of three runs and seven hits in 12 innings over his last two outings after tossing seven strong frames against the Chicago White Sox on Monday. Estrada, who is seeing the Astros for the first time in 2017, is 2-5 with a 5.47 ERA in 13 road starts.
Morton is even sharper than Estrada of late and has allowed two runs in 13 innings over his last two starts to improve to 4-1 in his last five turns. The 33-year-old is enjoying the best strikeout rate of his career with 97 in 88 ? frames. Morton struck out just three in six innings at Toronto on July 7 but also surrendered only one run and earned the victory.
WALK-OFFS
WALK-OFFS
1. Astros SS Carlos Correa (thumb) is expected to start swinging a bat next week.
2. Toronto placed C Miguel Montero (groin) on the 10-day disabled list.
3. Houston 1B/3B Yuli Gurriel is 9-for-20 with four extra-base hits in his last five contests.