Astros hope to salvage final game north of the border with Keuchel on the mound.
Houston at Toronto, 6:07 p.m.
TV: CSN Houston, MLB.TV
Radio: KBME 790 AM, KLAT 1010 AM
Blue Jays SBNation Blog: Bluebird Banter
Pitching matchup
LHP Dallas Keuchel (0-1, 7.20 ERA, 2.00 WHIP) vs. RHP R.A. Dickey (1-1, 4.63 ERA, 1.46 WHIP)
Preivew
Series Preview Quote
R.A. Dickey has a power-knuckleball that will allow him to pitch as long as he wants. The question has arisen if his knuckleball works indoors.- he has posted a 4.84 ERA in 22 starts at the Rogers Centre. He was excellent in his first start against the Yankees, allowing zero runs over 6.2 innings.
Dickey has held Jose Altuve hitless in seven at-bats. While Dexter Fowler (3-for-6), Jesus Guzman (2-for-6), and Marc Krauss (2-for-3) appear to be able to pick up the knuckler. Krauss two hits have both gone for extra baseses.
Dallas Keuchel looks to improve on his first outing that saw him up around 50+ pitches in the third inning against the Angels. Dallas fought through it and keep the game in check, allowing four runs in five innings.
The power bats of the Blue Jays have all hit the Astros' left-hander well, Bautista, Cabrera, and Encarnacion all have multiple hits in two games against Keuchel.
Dickey faced the Astros on July 26, 2013 - he pitched six innings and gave up five runs. Those five runs came off seven hits, two walks, and eight strikeouts. Marc Krauss touched up the knuckleballer for a two-run homer in tha game. Villar and Krauss also added a double in the game. Krauss snapped his 0-for-15 streak last night and appears to have a good eye for the knuckler in a small sample.
Maicer Izturis continues to be hot, batting .455 (10-for-22) this season. This includes 2-for-3 with a one run batted in his last game.
Dexter Fowler was welcomed back to the lineup, going 1-for-3 with a run scored.