Game Thread: Toronto Blue Jays (3-4) vs Houston Astros (3-4)

Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

After losing their first home series of the season to the New York Yankees, the Toronto Blue Jays welcome the Houston Astros to Rogers Centre for a 3 game set. Jeff Morten has graciously and thoroughly set up the series for us. It should be (in theory and on paper) be a chance for the Blue Jays to breathe and pad their record a bit after facing the Tampa Bay Rays and the Yankees. Keep in mind that this Astros team is the same that took the first two games of the season against the Yanks. A win tonight will put them back to .500. Considering all the doom and gloom that surrounded the Jays coming in to this season, they were fortunate to come away from the Trop with a series split and to hang in for the series with the Yankees. Thus far, the Jays have shown a Jekyll and Hyde act in 2014. The offense has been up and down, their pitching has been in and out, hot and cold. It’s like Katy Perry wrote the first week of the season. The question is, which Blue Jays team will show up this evening? Here’s how it looks:

Mark Buehrle (1-0) vs Brett Oberholtzer (0-1)

TV: MLB.TV, Sportsnet ONE, 360, Pacific
Radio: Sportsnet 590 THE FAN

Houston Astros Lineup:

Robbie Grossman-LF

Jose Altuve-2B

Jesus Guzman-1B

Jason Castro-C

Chris Carter-DH

L.J. Hoes-RF

Matt Dominguez-3B

Alex Presley-CF

Jonathan Villar-SS

Oberholtzer-P

Toronto Blue Jays Lineup:

Melky Cabrera-LF

Adam Lind-DH

Jose Bautista-RF

Edwin Encarnacion-1B

Dioner Navarro-C

Brett Lawrie-3B

Colby Rasmus-CF

Maicer Izturis-2B

Jonathan Diaz-SS

Buehrle-P

What Blue Jays Fan Should Watch For:

–Adam Lind is hitting in the two spot AGAINST A LEFTY! This should be interesting. Lind has been hitting quite well so far. This should be a good test for him. And, let’s be honest, with all due respect, Olberholtzer is no David Price. This move also rests a struggling Colby Rasmus.

-Can Mark Buehrle follow up his season debut? Against the Rays, Buehrle was lights out striking out 11! Can he keep that going and provide the Jays with a solid, quality start and save the bullpen? Regardless of the answer, you know it is going to be quick! Buehrle works fast, so you better hurry to catch it all.

-Is Brett Lawrie going to break out of his funk? The 24 yr old is batting .120 with only 3 hits in this young season. The Blue Jays NEED him and his bat to step it up. Perhaps tonight is the night.