The Houston Astros are gearing up to face the Toronto Blue Jays in a Canada Day matinee at the Rogers Centre in Toronto this Monday. With both teams seeking momentum as the season progresses, this matchup is poised to deliver riveting baseball action.
Astros vs. Blue Jays: A Look at the Records
Heading into the game, the Astros hold a 42-41 record. Earlier in the season, they managed to win two of three games when they faced Toronto in April. This record includes a 6-7 tally against American League East teams, showing a struggle against eastern competition.
In contrast, the Blue Jays find themselves with a 38-45 record after a challenging month of June, which saw them finish with an 11-16 record. However, they have performed relatively better against AL West teams, posting a 5-4 record this season.
Pitching Showdown: Brown vs. Rodriguez
Taking the mound for the Astros will be Hunter Brown, who currently holds a 5-5 record and a 4.37 ERA. On the betting front, the Astros are favored at -142, reflecting a degree of confidence in their starting pitcher and overall team performance.
Opposite Brown, the Blue Jays will start Yariel Rodriguez, whose season has seen its ups and downs. Rodriguez comes in with an 0-2 record and a 5.94 ERA. Nonetheless, his best outing was a standout performance against the San Diego Padres in April, where he worked four innings, allowing just three hits and one earned run, while walking one and striking out seven.
Player Performances to Watch
Astros' slugger Yordan Alvarez is having a notable season, batting .294 with 19 doubles, one triple, 16 homers, and 41 RBI across 80 games. Alvarez has been particularly hot at the plate recently, collecting hits in four of his past five games and recording four multi-hit games over his last ten outings.
Similarly, Mauricio Dubon has been a consistent contributor, hitting in each of the last four games and eight of the last ten. His season stats include a .293 average, 15 doubles, three homers, and 29 RBI in 68 games.
On the Blue Jays' side, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been a standout performer. Batting .297 with 17 doubles, 13 homers, 50 RBI, and 40 runs scored over 83 games, Guerrero's recent series against the New York Yankees was particularly impressive. He went 8-for-17 (.471) with two doubles, three homers, and 10 RBI, including a notable 3-for-5 game where he hit a double, a home run, and drove in six runs.
Team Statistics
When it comes to team batting averages, the Astros lead the way with a .264 average, the highest in MLB. In comparison, the Blue Jays' team batting average stands at .236, ranking them 20th in the league.
Additionally, the Astros possess a 31-26 record against right-handed pitchers, while the Blue Jays have struggled somewhat in this department, holding a 31-36 record against right-handers.
With the game set to start at 3:07 p.m. ET, fans of both teams will be eagerly watching to see if the Astros can extend their success against Toronto or if the Blue Jays can capitalize on their home-field advantage to secure a much-needed win.