Blue Jays at Astros
The Toronto Blue Jays look to win their fourth consecutive game when they visit the Houston Astros for the middle contest of their three-game series. The Blue Jays dropped 10 of 11 road games before winning their last three away from home, including Monday's 6-3 triumph against Houston ace Justin Verlander.
Curtis Granderson belted two solo homers off Verlander, his former teammate with Detroit, while Randal Grichuk slugged a 471-foot, two-run blast off reliever Will Harris as Toronto won for the 11th time in its last 17 overall games. Justin Smoak has emerged from a 5-for-44 funk to go 4-for-8 with three doubles over his last two games and delivered a two-run double in Monday's victory. Houston is 3-3 since matching the franchise record with 12 straight wins and has scored just four runs in the three setbacks. Alex Bregman, who belted a solo homer and added a run-scoring single in the opener, has gone deep seven times and driven in 22 runs this month.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, TVA (Toronto), AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Ryan Borucki (NR) vs. Astros RH Charlie Morton (9-1, 2.74 ERA)
The Blue Jays need a starter after recently putting Aaron Sanchez (finger) and Jaime Garcia (shoulder) on the disabled list and are expected to recall Borucki from Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday. The 24-year-old, who will be making his major-league debut, has posted a 6-5 record and 3.27 ERA in 13 starts for Buffalo this year. Borucki is making progress after his career was derailed by Tommy John surgery that forced him to miss the entire 2013 season.
Morton defeated Tampa Bay in his last turn as he gave up one unearned run and two hits over six innings. The 34-year-old has experienced some control issues of late, walking 16 in 15 2/3 frames over his last three turns after issuing just six free passes over his previous five outings. Morton never had faced the Blue Jays until last season, when he went 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Granderson is 4-for-9 with three solo homers over his last two games.
2. Houston OF George Springer was hitless in five at-bats in the opener and is 3-for-40 over his last 10 contests.
3. Toronto OF Teoscar Hernandez went 3-for-5 in the opener for his third multi-hit performance in seven games.