The Houston Astros are all set to kick off the first game of their series against the Toronto Blue Jays in what promises to be a great encounter at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.
The Astros will be fielding Brandon Bielak as their starting pitcher, who enters the game with an impressive 2-2 record and a solid ERA of 3.19. Bielak has been in top form recently, with two wins in his last three starts and an impressive nine strikeouts against Oakland on May 19.
On the other side, the Blue Jays are pinning their hopes on Alek Manoah. Despite a rocky start to this season with a 1-6 record and a high ERA of 5.46, it's worth remembering that Manoah was an outstanding player last season, boasting a 16-7 record and an ERA of just 2.24. The Toronto crowd will certainly be hoping for a return to form from Manoah, who hasn't tasted victory since his second start of the season on April 5th against the Kansas City Royals.
As for season records, the Astros are currently ahead with a 35-24 standing, while the Blue Jays lag slightly behind at 33-27. However, the Blue Jays have been showing signs of a resurgence, sweeping the Mets on the weekend in New York and having won their last game 6-4 against the New York Mets.
The odds have been set with the Astros at a line of +105 on the money line, and the Blue Jays are favorites at -125, while the over/under for the game stands at 10.5.
Both teams have been in good form recently, with the Astros winning 7 of their last 10 games and the Blue Jays also securing 7 wins in their last 10 outings. But the starting pitcher's duel between Bielak and Manoah might be the crucial factor in determining the outcome of this much-anticipated game.
Overall, this opening game between the Houston Astros and the Toronto Blue Jays promises high stakes and a close contest. It will be intriguing to see if Manoah can recapture his form from last season, or if Bielak can continue his recent hot streak. Stay tuned for what's set to be an exciting showdown.
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