Astros manager Joe Espada was reluctant to declare that his club had made a statement following a 7-3 win over the Texas Rangers on Sunday that capped a sweep of the three-game series and propelled Houston into first place in the American League West for the first time since April 6.
The Astros have won six in a row and 11 of 12 and will take their hot stretch into a three-game series against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays starting on Monday. Houston was six games out of first place on June 2. The ballclub opened a 2 1/2-game lead over the Rangers with a sweep that displayed their resilience and confirmed their status as a legitimate postseason contender.
“I think we just run the course,” Espada said. “We know what we need to do. I want our attention to be on our club. These are the things we need to do to get to the postseason. Regardless of who the opponent is, we need to play good baseball.
“We believe that we are the best team in the West and we are one of the best teams in the American League. That’s all that matters to me and to our club. Let’s go out and take care of business.”
Houston right-hander Cristian Javier (1-1, 7.17 ERA) is scheduled to start the series opener. Javier twirled five innings of scoreless relief in a 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels on July 27, allowing three hits and posting seven strikeouts. In his last start on July 12, Javier gave up three runs on four hits and three walks with four strikeouts over three innings in the Astros’ 6-5 loss to the host Rangers.
Javier is 2-2 with a 4.22 ERA in four career starts against the Blue Jays. In his previous start against Toronto on Sept. 11, 2025, he allowed four runs on six hits and one walk with six strikeouts over six innings in a 6-0 road loss.
Right-hander Shane Bieber (2-2, 5.74) has the starting assignment for the Blue Jays. He was the pitcher of record in an 8-6 loss to the Washington Nationals on July 28 after allowing four runs on one hit and six walks while recording only two outs. That loss snapped a two-start win streak during which he posted a 0.69 ERA and allowed eight baserunners in 13 innings.
Bieber is 1-1 with a 3.68 ERA in five career starts against the Astros. He made his season debut on June 23 against Houston, allowing four runs on nine hits — including three home runs — with two strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings. He did not factor into the decision of a 9-7 home loss in 11 innings.
The Blue Jays had their three-game winning streak snapped with a 5-1 interleague home loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. Mired in last place in the American League East, the Blue Jays appear likely to sell before the trade deadline expires on Monday. They traded right-hander Kevin Gausman to the Cubs and acquired Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon in separate deals on Sunday.
“No matter what happens over the next 24 hours, we’re going to come here and compete and try to win,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “Whoever that’s with is whoever that’s with. It’s a hypothetical world until (Monday afternoon).
“Our job is to keep pushing forward.”
–Field Level Media
