GDB 85:0: Blue Jays kick off Canada Day against the Houston Astros

Another year, another game on home soil for the Toronto Blue Jays on July 1st.

The Jays will host the Houston Astros for an afternoon contest on Canada’s birthday as the team looks to enter back into the win column after splitting the weekend series against the New York Yankees.

The Astros head North of the border on a hot streak, winning nine of their last ten games and have worked their way up past the .500 mark after a disastrous start to the season.

The Blue Jays will look to put their past demons aside from when they faced Houston earlier this season. The bats struggled to get anything going outside of a Davis Schneider game winning home run while Ronel Blanco no-hit the Blue Jays early into the season. While the Astros have found a groove in the AL West, the Blue Jays are still struggling to improve their record, heading into the contest today with a 38-45 record and fifth in the AL East.

The Jays will be sending Yariel Rodríguez to the mound, with his last outing against being shortened in Boston due to the rain delay. His previous outing against Cleveland was also a struggle, lasting just 1 1/3 innings while he allowed two runs on six hits and three walks.

Opposite Rodríguez will be Hunter Brown, who owns a 4.37 ERA through 16 starts this season.

Since it is Canada Day, the Blue Jays will don the red alternate jerseys today as they look to take the first game of the series.

First Pitch: 3:07pm EST

TV & Radio: Sportsnet, SN590

1. Bo Bichette (R) SS

2. Spencer Horwitz (L) 2B

3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (R) 1B

4. Justin Turner (R) DH

5. George Springer (R) RF

6. Daulton Varsho (L) CF

7. Davis Schneider (R) LF

8. Alejandro Kirk (R) C

9. Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R) 3B

1. Alex Bergman (R) 3B

2. Jake Meyers (R) CF

3. Yordan Alvarez (L) DH

4. Yainer Diaz (R) C

5. Jon Singleton (L) 1B

6. Jeremy Peña (R) SS

7. Mauricio Dubón (R) 2B

8. Trey Cabbage (L) RF

9. Chas McCormick (R) LF