Toronto at Houston

Shane Bieber's last start ended after two-thirds of an inning in Washington, six walks on nine batters faced, three with the bases loaded, the worst outing of his career by his own admission. It came just five days after what he called his best start in a Toronto uniform, seven strong innings against Tampa Bay, and Bieber pointed to a grip he never found after a long rain delay rather than anything mechanical. Houston counters with Cristian Javier, still hunting for command after a shoulder strain kept him off a big-league mound for months, 15 walks in just over 21 innings this year and a 7.29 ERA that says the stuff has not caught up to the return yet. Houston is on a hot streak, nine wins in its last ten, but this particular matchup has bent Toronto's way lately, the Blue Jays taking seven of the last ten meetings between these clubs. Two shaky arms on the mound tonight cancel out most of the edge that streak buys Houston, and Toronto brings a bullpen ERA nearly half a run cleaner than Houston's if this one turns into a footrace. Back Toronto at the plus price tonight.