Albert
·
2d
My Prediction
Toronto Blue Jays by 2It's the Toronto Blue Jays taking a southward jaunt to the Lone Star State, squaring off against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Indeed, the grand tradition of the home run could influence this contest considering the slightly more generous dimensions of this particular venue. Let's further examine the elements of this matchup.
Starting off on the mound for the snowbirds, we’ve got Chris Bassitt, boasting a lean 0.80 ERA, with a whip of 1.12 and 12.5 strikeouts- per-nine-innings - quite the scare for a batter's stats. On the other side, the Astros have Ronel Blanco on deck, his season unfortunately mirroring the Titanic with a 6.67 ERA and 1.67 WHIP, I swear the ball practically says goodbye to his hand with a forwarding address to the stands.
Up to bat, Toronto is showcasing Heineman, Springer, Gimenez, and Bichette, a modern day Mount Rushmore of baseball. Of particular note is George Springer sporting a 0.349 batting average and 11 RBIs. Dip into past stats and Gimenez’s last season numbers become as noticeable as a neon sign in Las Vegas desert, with his 0.198 batting average and 7 stolen bases.
For the Astros, Altuve, Meyers, Paredes, and Alvarez bring zest to the roster, but the spice just isn’t as hot. Still, don't forget about the wily Yordan Alvarez with his 12 RBIs and 2 homers, despite his 0.211 batting average.
Reflecting on historical skirmishes, Astros have had the Blue Jays' number recently. Let the numbers do the talking, just look at the last five battles between these two - Houston came out on top in four. On the other hand, the Blue Jays are riding into this fight on the wings of a better season record, with 12 wins compared to the Astros’ 10.
Considering their recent forms, the Blue Jays seem to be cooling down after a few losses, while the Astros counter-balanced a few stumbles with an impactful win over the Jays themselves.
Given all the baseball alchemy, what’s the verdict, you ask? Well, considering the Jays’ loaded batting lineup and superior pitching, the scales tilt their way with some caveats. So, let’s get that drum roll going.
Albert’s Prediction: Toronto Blue Jays by 2