After a postponement provided a welcome break for their busy bullpen, the Toronto Blue Jays will return home Monday night to open a three-game series against the Houston Astros.
The Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs’ rubber match of a three-game series was postponed on Sunday because of inclement weather and rescheduled for Aug. 6.
Toronto finished a 4-1 road trip and will play the next 10 games at home before hitting the road until the All-Star break.
The postponement could benefit the Blue Jays’ bullpen that was taxed in the two games in Chicago. Kevin Gausman lasted only two innings in his start on Friday and that was followed on Saturday when starter Patrick Corbin lasted only 3 2/3 innings.
The Blue Jays wrapped up an 8-6 win on Saturday when closer Louis Varland entered with the bases loaded and pitched two innings to earn his 15th save.
Varland has pitched more than one inning 12 times — including three stints of two innings — in 37 games this season and has compensated by throwing less between assignments.
“I learned a lot from last year, probably overthrew a little bit outside of the game,” Varland said. “So, I made some adjustments here and there in pretty much all aspects. Less-is-more type of mentality, but still checking the boxes for what I need.”
The Blue Jays had not listed a starting pitcher for Monday as of Sunday night, but they were expected to go with right-hander Dylan Cease (4-3, 2.71 ERA), who had been scheduled to start on Sunday. He is 1-3 with a 3.35 ERA in eight career starts against Houston.
Right-hander Shane Bieber (2026 debut) was scheduled to make his first start of the season Monday after being on the 60-day injured list with elbow inflammation. He could start Tuesday instead. Bieber is 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA in four career starts against Houston.
The Astros are scheduled to pitch righty Hunter Brown (1-0, 1.10) in the series opener. He is 2-1 with a 1.42 ERA in three career starts against Toronto.
Brown returned from the injured list to make his third start of the season on June 16 when he held the Detroit Tigers to one run, three hits and three walks while striking out seven over 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision. The Astros won 4-2.
Brown had not pitched since March 31 because of a right shoulder sprain.
“We’ve had a lot of guys fill in who have done a great job and other people step up, and it takes a full 40-man roster,” Brown said. “But now that I am back, hopefully, I can hit the ground running and keep it going. That’s the goal, that’s the plan. And we’re still in striking distance and everybody in this clubhouse knows it, so that’s where we want to be and just try and keep putting together wins.”
Brown settled in after his first two innings against the Tigers after showing signs of the layoff and reached 92 pitches for the outing.
“When he got to that 80-85 (pitch level), we started seeing him breathing harder, taking more time around the mound, so you could tell some fatigue was starting to set in,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “But this guy competes, man. He’s a horse.”
The Astros completed a 4-2 homestand Sunday with a 2-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians and will open a seven-game trip in Toronto.
Houston is 17-11 since May 21 and Toronto is 16-12.
–Field Level Media
