8:10 pm
April 22

Blue Jays @ Astros

Who will WIN this matchup?

Toronto Blue Jays (8-5)

@ Houston Astros (6-6)

 

Starting Pitchers:

Stripling (TOR): 0-0; 3.00 ERA

Verlander (HOU) 1-1; 0.69 ERA

 

Current odds:

Toronto Blue Jays: (+147)

Houston Astros: (-179)

 

• The starting line-up for the Blue Jays is as follows:

 

• The starting line-up for the Astros is as follows:

 

• The Houston Astros have been slow out of the gate offensively, concluding their first dozen games with a .199 batting average that is the worst in the American League. The Astros, set to host the Toronto Blue Jays in a three-game series starting Friday, have hitters struggling up and down their lineup.

• First baseman Yuli Gurriel, the 2021 AL batting champion, missed three games on paternity leave during the season-opening, nine-game road trip and is 4-for-30 (.133) since his return.

• Right-hander Justin Verlander (1-1, 0.69 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Astros on Friday. He worked eight scoreless innings in his latest appearance, a 4-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday. He allowed three hits while recording eight strikeouts and walking none in an 87-pitch outing.

• According to STATS, Verlander became the first pitcher to log eight shutout innings with eight-plus strikeouts in fewer than 90 pitches on the road since Greg Maddux did so for the Atlanta Braves at Yankee Stadium on July 2, 1997.

• Verlander is 4-6 with a 4.28 ERA over 14 career starts against the Blue Jays, whom he no-hit in his previous outing against them, on Sept. 1, 2019. Two of his three career no-hitters have come against Toronto, including one on May 7, 2011, also in Canada.

• Right-hander Ross Stripling (0-0, 3.00 ERA) will start for the Blue Jays. He made two starts against the Astros last season, going 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA. He also faced Houston three times during the 2017 World Series while with the Los Angeles Dodgers, working two scoreless innings and allowing two hits and one walk.

• Stripling made two relief appearances, both against the Texas Rangers, before making his first start of the season on April 15. He logged four scoreless innings while surrendering two hits and recording three strikeouts in the Blue Jays’ 4-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics.

• The Blue Jays improved to 3-0-1 in series this season by taking the rubber match of their three-game road set against the Boston Red Sox 3-2 on Thursday. Toronto right-hander Kevin Gausman carried a shutout into the ninth inning.

• The Blue Jays, lauded for their lineup full of sluggers, have allowed three or fewer runs in six of their past seven games.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Houston Astros