Astros meet the Blue Jays with 2-1 series lead

Updated Jul. 4, 2024 4:00 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Houston Astros (44-42, second in the AL West) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (39-47, fifth in the AL East)

Toronto; Thursday, 1:07 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Astros: Framber Valdez (6-5, 4.11 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 68 strikeouts); Blue Jays: Chris Bassitt (7-6, 3.24 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 91 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Astros -119, Blue Jays +100; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros face the Toronto Blue Jays with a 2-1 series lead.

Toronto is 21-23 at home and 39-47 overall. The Blue Jays have a 27-5 record in games when they have more hits than their opponents.

Houston is 44-42 overall and 20-23 on the road. The Astros have the eighth-ranked team ERA in the AL at 4.05.

Thursday's game is the seventh meeting between these teams this season. The Astros hold a 4-2 advantage in the season series.

TOP PERFORMERS: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has 18 doubles, 13 home runs and 50 RBI for the Blue Jays. George Springer is 13-for-35 with three doubles, four home runs and 13 RBI over the last 10 games.

Yordan Alvarez has 21 doubles, a triple and 19 home runs for the Astros. Yainer Diaz is 18-for-41 with two doubles, a triple and 10 RBI over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Blue Jays: 4-6, .252 batting average, 5.83 ERA, outscored by 10 runs

Astros: 8-2, .284 batting average, 2.80 ERA, outscored opponents by 31 runs

INJURIES: Blue Jays: Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 10-Day IL (knee), Yimi Garcia: 15-Day IL (elbow), Jordan Romano: 15-Day IL (elbow), Alek Manoah: 15-Day IL (elbow)

Astros: Jake Bloss: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Victor Caratini: 10-Day IL (hip), Justin Verlander: 15-Day IL (neck), Cristian Javier: 60-Day IL (forearm), Kyle Tucker: 10-Day IL (shin), Jose Urquidy: 60-Day IL (forearm), Oliver Ortega: 60-Day IL (elbow), Bennett Sousa: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Penn Murfee: 60-Day IL (elbow), Luis Garcia: 60-Day IL (elbow), Lance McCullers Jr.: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kendall Graveman: 60-Day IL (elbow)

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.