Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA

Houston Astros vs Toronto Blue Jays: Is there hope for the Blue Jays

The Houston Astros and the Toronto Blue Jays are starting a four-game series tonight at Rogers Centre.

The Astros are the hottest team in the league

The Houston Astros are second in the AL West with a 42-41 record, including 18-22 on the road. They have won 9 of their last 10 games and are coming off a 10-5 win over the New York Mets in the 11th inning last night. The Astros have a 4.08 ERA, a .235 batting average, a .318 on-base percentage, and 1.31 walks plus hits per inning pitched. Jose Altuve leads the team with 103 hits and 50 runs for the season, and Kyle Tucker is on top with 19 home runs.

The Blue Jays are at the bottom of the division

The Toronto Blue Jays are at the bottom of the AL East with a 38-45 record, including 20-21 on the road. They have won 3 of the last 5 games and are coming off splitting the four-game series against the New York Yankees. The Blue Jays have a 4.30 ERA, a .250 batting average, a .315 on-base percentage, and 1.30 walks plus hits per inning pitched. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leads the team with 96 hits, 40 runs and 13 home runs.

Betting Trends

The Blue Jays are 3-9 SU in their last 12 games overall, 3-7 SU in their last 10 games against teams from the AL and 4-2 SU in their last 6 games against teams from the AL West. They have played over the total run line in their last 7 games overall and the last five home games, while they have played under in 5 of their last 6 games against Houston and 5 of their last 6 home games against them. The Astros are 9-1 SU in their last 10 games overall, 2-4 SU in their last 6 games against the Blue Jats, 4-1 SU in their last 5 games on the road and 5-0 SU in their last 5 games against teams from the AL. They have played over the total run line in 4 of their last 6 games overall and 4 of their last 5 games played in July.

Prediction and Conclusion

The Houston Astros are the best team in the league when it comes to the last ten games after winning nine of them. Just like that, they turned a disappointing record into a winning one and are looking to extend the good streak when they go to Toronto. Last season, the Blue Jays won the last three home games in the series against the Astros. Tonight, the Blue Jays will go with Yariel Rodriguez on the mound, who is 0-2 for the season with a 5.94 ERA, 17 K, 16.2 IP, and 1.92 WHIP. The Astros will have Hunter Brown, who is 5-5 for the season with a 4.37 ERA, 89 K, 80.1 IP, and 1.37 WHIP. The Blue Jays had a pair of solid games against the Yankees last week, but the Astros are playing their best baseball of the season, so we go with Houston tonight.