Astros bid for first series sweep of season in finale vs. Jays

It took 20 games for the Houston Astros to win consecutive contests for the first time this season.

With their 5-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, the Astros have won back-to-back series.

Houston moved a game over .500 for the first time since winning the rubber match of a three-game series against the New York Mets to open the season. In the interim, the Astros alternated wins and losses for one 14-game stretch, but behind their stellar pitching and defense, they will have an opportunity to secure their first series sweep with a win over the visiting Blue Jays on Wednesday night.

Houston manager Joe Espada didn’t take any chances with Toronto on Tuesday, deploying closer Josh Hader in the ninth inning in a non-save situation. Hader followed a perfect eighth inning from right-hander Bryan Abreu, who fanned a pair of batters, by striking out two batters to cap a combined two-hitter started by Ronel Blanco and continued by left-handed reliever Bryan King, who recorded an out in the seventh on one pitch.

The Astros own a 2.72 bullpen ERA, tops in the American League and fourth in the majors. Over the last 11 games, the bullpen has a 1.45 ERA.

“Trying to win a series,” Espada said. “That’s a good team, and we have an opportunity to win a series, and our back end (of the bullpen) is rested. We’re going to go for it.”

After struggling to generate momentum over the opening weeks, the Astros appear to be rolling.

“Energy is up, confidence is up,” shortstop Jeremy Pena said. “Our pitchers have been lights out, our defense has been phenomenal. And that’s what’s been keeping us in ballgames. Close ballgames, it’s been pitching and defense.”

Rookie right-hander Ryan Gusto (2-1, 3.18 ERA) has the starting assignment as the Astros pursue the series sweep. He made his first four appearances out of the bullpen before joining the rotation when right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (thumb) landed on the injured list. Gusto is 1-1 with a 5.00 ERA as a starter, with eight strikeouts and one walk over nine innings. He will face Toronto for the first time.

Right-hander Bowden Francis (2-2, 3.13 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Blue Jays, who have lost four games in a row and have been swept once this season, by Washington from March 31-April 2.

Francis notched his second quality start in his previous outing, allowing one run on five hits and one walk with five strikeouts over six innings in a 3-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Friday. Francis had dropped his previous two starts after posting a quality start and a victory in his season debut against the Nationals on March 31.

Francis is 0-1 with a 12.27 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against the Astros. In his lone start against them, he allowed seven runs on 10 hits — including three home runs — and one walk with seven strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings in a 10-0 road loss on April 1, 2024.

–Field Level Media