Toronto @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 26, 2018 ) Houston 1, Toronto 3

The Houston Astros have been rolling for over a month and boast the best home record in the American League, making their 3-2 mark entering the final leg of an eight-game homestand tough to swallow. The Astros should feel reasonably good about their chances of improving upon their 25-10 mark at Minute Maid Park on Friday, however, when they host the opener of a three-game set against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Houston's good luck in extra-inning affairs - winning each of its four such contests, including three in June - came to an end in Wednesday's 14-inning setback against Milwaukee despite seven pitchers combining to register 24 strikeouts, including a career-high 15 by Justin Verlander. Still, the Astros hold a 9 1/2-game lead in the AL West and enter the weekend not having lost a series (10-0-2) since dropping three of four to Minnesota from April 29-May 2. The Blue Jays began their six-game road trip on a high note, first ending a five-game losing streak with an 8-6 triumph Wednesday in Baltimore before exploding for a season-high run total in Thursday's 12-3 rout of the Orioles. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. left his mark in both victories, going a combined 5-for-9 with a home run and five RBIs.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, Sportsnet One (Toronto), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Aaron Sanchez (3-7, 4.25 ERA) vs. Astros RH Gerrit Cole (5-5, 3.72)

Sanchez dropped his sixth straight decision and saw his winless streak extended to eight games Saturday against Arizona after yielding five runs on six hits and four walks over six innings. The 26-year-old has issued multiple free passes in each of his last 19 outings, dating back to last season and is tied for fourth in the majors with 40 walks. Sanchez is 3-1 with a 3.66 ERA in five appearances (three starts) against Houston.

Cole fanned a season-high 14 for his seventh double-digit strikeout effort of 2019, but he was unable to factor into the decision Friday against Baltimore after allowing three runs (one earned) in seven frames. The two-time All-Star also induced a season-best 29 swinging strikes in the outing while running up his major-league strikeout total to 130 across 84 2/3 innings. Cole is holding opponents to a .196 average at home and owns a 2.08 ERA through two starts in June.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Astros have won 12 consecutive series openers.

2. Toronto rookie 2B Cavan Biggio homered twice Wednesday, doubling the total from his first 14 career contests and snapping an 1-for-23 slump over his previous eight games.

3. Houston rookie OF Yordan Alvarez, who homered in each of his first two games before drawing three walks Wednesday, has drawn at least one walk and scored in each of his first three big-league games.

PREDICTION: Astros 7, Blue Jays 1