The Toronto Blue Jays shall be coping with accidents and uncertainty as they proceed their four-game collection with the visiting Houston Astros on Tuesday evening.
First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (proper hand) and infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa (left knee) have been each scratched from the lineup earlier than the Blue Jays’ 3-1 loss to the Astros on Monday afternoon within the collection opener.
Guerrero, who’s on a seven-game hitting streak, was struck on the hand by a pitch within the third inning on Sunday in opposition to the New York Yankees. He was changed by pinch hitter Davis Schneider within the eighth.
Guerrero had discomfort in two fingers throughout batting follow earlier than the sport on Monday.
“I hope (Tuesday) it is going to be good,” Guerrero mentioned.
Kiner-Falefa injured his knee throughout pregame stretches, and now Toronto is awaiting check outcomes.
“Actually popped up out of nowhere,” Toronto supervisor John Schneider mentioned.
The Blue Jays can not afford to be with out both participant for an prolonged time frame. They’re 2-3 throughout an eight-game homestand and have misplaced 10 of their previous 13.
In the meantime, the Astros continued rolling on Monday with their tenth win in 11 video games. They improved to 3-1 on their 10-game street journey thanks partially to homers from Yordan Alvarez and Jeremy Pena and 6 scoreless innings from Hunter Brown.
“We have been enjoying our model of baseball,” Pena mentioned. “We have been pitching very well, we have been enjoying good protection. We have been getting well timed hits. That is once we’re at our greatest.”
Over his previous 5 outings, Brown is 5-0 with a 0.29 ERA. Monday marked his eighth consecutive high quality begin.
Toronto couldn’t make the most of a robust outing from right-hander Yariel Rodriguez, who allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings.
“This was the primary time we have seen him,” Pena mentioned. “He had actually good things. I felt like he was finding pitches fairly effectively.”
The Blue Jays twice loaded the bases — within the second in opposition to Brown and within the eighth in opposition to Bryan Abreu — however got here up empty each occasions.
“We simply wanted successful in sure spots,” John Schneider mentioned. “Twice, we loaded the bases with one out and could not take benefit.”
Houston is scheduled to start out right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (4-6, 5.68 ERA) on Tuesday. He has not confronted Toronto in his profession.
In his newest begin, Arrighetti struck out a career-high 10 in seven scoreless innings in opposition to the Colorado Rockies final Wednesday and got here away with a win.
Toronto is planning on turning to right-hander Jose Berrios (7-6, 3.38). In 10 profession begins in opposition to Houston, Berrios is 5-4 with a 3.93 ERA.
Berrios most lately earned a win in opposition to the Yankees, giving up two runs on two hits in seven innings on Thursday.
Houston’s turnaround after a gradual begin to the season is one thing Toronto is drawing inspiration from.
“They’ve good gamers and we do too,” John Schneider mentioned. “(Kyle) Tucker, (Jose) Altuve, (Alex) Bregman, Alvarez, some contributions from Chas (McCormick), (Yainer) Diaz, they sort of all bought going on the identical time. We have struggled to try this with our guys on the identical time.
“That is precisely what we’re on the lookout for, you reel off what they’ve carried out. And also you want good pitching day by day and also you want a great bullpen day by day. They usually’ve carried out a great job of that.”
–Discipline Stage Media