Blue Jays @ Astros

Who will WIN this matchup?

Toronto Blue Jays (25-44)

@ Houston Astros (47-23)

Starting Pitchers:

Richard (TOR): 0-2; 7.04 ERA

Valdez (HOU) 2-2; 2.73 ERA

Last 10 Games Played:

Toronto Blue Jays: 4-6

Houston Astros: 7-3

Current odds:

Toronto Blue Jays: (+200)

Houston Astros: (-220)

• Yordan Alvarez has logged only 13 at-bats and been in the majors for less than a week, yet he’s already etched his name into the Houston Astros’ record books. The 21-year-old rookie, who became the first Astro to hit a home run in three of his first four big-league games in the series opener, looks to continue the torrid start to his pro career Saturday when Houston hosts the second of three games against the Toronto Blue Jays. Alvarez earned his promotion on Sunday after batting .343 with 23 homers and 71 RBIs in 56 games at Triple-A Round Rock and hasn’t missed a beat since, going 5-for-13 with six walks, three home runs and seven RBIs in his first four major-league games. He celebrated his first game in the cleanup spot Friday with a 3-for-4 effort, including a two-run blast in the fourth inning to stake the Astros to a 10-run lead before the American League West leaders coasted to a 15-2 victory. Houston’s 35-year-old catcher, Robinson Chirinos, added his first career grand slam and finished with a personal-best six RBIs to run his total up to 16 over his last nine contests.

• Rookie Cavan Biggio drove in two runs for a second straight game for the Blue Jays, who mustered 20 runs and 28 hits in consecutive wins at Baltimore before mustering only five hits in the opener.

• Richard has yet to make it through five innings through four starts and turned in his worst effort of the season Sunday against Arizona, giving up seven runs – all in the third inning – on seven hits and two walks over a season-low 2 2/3 frames. The Indiana native has as many walks as strikeouts (11) across 15 1/3 innings and is allowing right-handed hitters to bat .292 against him. Richard made all three of his career starts against the Astros between 2011 and 2012, going 1-1 with a 4.79 ERA.

• Valdez made his first start of the season last Saturday after 14 relief appearances but failed to factor into the decision despite yielding one run on five hits while striking out seven over as many innings against Baltimore. The 25-year-old rookie also made a strong impression in the rotation in 2018, going 2-1 with a 2.59 ERA across five turns in late August and the first half of September. Valdez is 1-0 with a 2.41 ERA in eight games (one start) at home this season as he faces Toronto for the first time.

• With a victory Saturday or Sunday, the Astros will improve to 11-0-2 over their last 13 series.

• Toronto rookie 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was removed from the game Friday after he was hit on the left hand by a pitch. X-rays came back negative and he was diagnosed with a contusion.

• Houston became the first major-league team to play five Cubans in the same season since 1969 on Friday when RHP Rogelio Armenteros pitched three scoreless frames to earn a save in his big-league debut.