AP Sports Preview

TORONTO (Interstat) — The Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays conclude their three-game series Wednesday night at Rogers Centre, with both teams looking to gain ground in their respective division races.

Houston (38-43) will start right-hander Mike Burrows (3-8, 5.12 ERA) against a Toronto lineup that has shown flashes of power. The Blue Jays (39-40) have not announced their starting pitcher for the 7:07 p.m. ET contest.

The series is tied 1-1 after the Astros won 9-7 in 11 innings Tuesday. Joey Loperfido delivered the decisive blow for Houston, hitting a pinch-hit home run with four RBIs. Daulton Varsho went 3 for 6 with a homer and two RBIs for Toronto in the losing effort. The Blue Jays won the opener 4-2 on Monday.

Burrows has struggled this season, allowing four or more earned runs in five of his past seven starts. He faces a Toronto club that has won four of its past six games.

Loperfido has been productive in limited at-bats, batting .375 (3 for 8) with two home runs across his past six games. Varsho enters Wednesday on a three-game hitting streak, going 5 for 14 (.357) with two homers.

The Astros have lost four of their past seven games but remain within striking distance in the AL West. Toronto is playing its first extended homestand of June and sits one game under .500.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-6 Toronto victory. The Blue Jays are listed as minus-1.5 favorites, with an over/under of 8 runs.

Following Wednesday’s game, Houston travels to Detroit for a four-game series beginning Thursday. Toronto returns home to host Texas for four games starting Thursday.

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