June 24 Gameday: Blue Jays looking to take series from Astros
Photo credit: © Jaiden Tripi-Imagn Images
Jun 24, 2026, 20:10 EDT
The Toronto Blue Jays can get back to the .500 mark for the season if they can defeat the Houston Astros at home on Wednesday evening.
After dropping Tuesday’s contest 9-7 in extra innings, the Blue Jays now sit at 39-40, but due to a jammed-up American League Wild Card picture, the Blue Jays remain in the third spot as the halfway point of the regular season quickly approaches.
The Blue Jays will turn to right-hander Trey Yesavage as they go for the series win against the Astros. Yesavage is coming off his longest start of the season after turning in a line of 7.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, during the Blue Jays’ 4-3 win against the Boston Red Sox on June 18.
For the season, Yesavage is 3-3 with a 3.76 ERA and 1.16 WHIP across his 10 starts. The 22-year-old has punched out 53 batters over his first 55 innings of the season and is set to face the Astros for the first time in his young career.
The Astros will counter with right-hander Mike Burrows. Burrows has struggled since coming over in an offseason trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates, having gone 3-8 with a 5.79 ERA and 1.58 WHIP over 15 starts. The 26-year-old has allowed opposing teams to hit .296, giving the Blue Jays’ offence a chance to put some runs up on the board.
The Astros’ offence will be boosted by the return of shortstop Jeremy Peña to the starting lineup. Peña was removed from Monday night’s contest due to left hamstring cramping but returned to pinch-hit during Wednesday’s affair. Peña is batting .284 with six home runs and 18 RBIs and has hit .294 since returning from the injured list on May 18.
Kazuma Okamoto is in one of his hot streaks and has been moved up to the fourth spot in the batting order to hopefully get Vladimir Guerrero Jr. more pitches to hit. Okamoto is 5-for-7 with one home run and three RBIs over the first two games of the series, which has helped raise his season numbers to .241 with 17 home runs and 49 RBIs.
Here’s how the lineups look for the series finale at Rogers Centre:
Location: Rogers Centre – Toronto, Canada
First Pitch: 7:07 PM EST
Watch/Listen: Sportsnet, SN590
Starting Pitchers
Toronto Blue Jays – Trey Yesavage: 3-3, 3.76 ERA, 55 IP, 53 SO, 25 BB
Houston Astros – Mike Burrows: 3-8 record, 5.79 ERA, 79.1 IP, 66 SO, 30 BB
Lineups:
Blue Jays:
- George Springer – DH
- Nathan Lukes – RF
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 1B
- Kazuma Okamoto – 3B
- Daulton Varsho – CF
- Alejandro Kirk – C
- Davis Schneider – LF
- Andrés Giménez – SS
- Luis Urías – 2B
Astros:
- Jose Altuve – 2B
- Yordan Alvarez – DH
- Jeremy Peña – SS
- Isaac Paredes – 1B
- Joey Loperfido – LF
- Yainer Diaz – C
- Cam Smith – LF
- Brice Matthews – CF
- Raynel Delgado – 3B
Breaking News
- June 24 Gameday: Blue Jays looking to take series from Astros
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- Addison Barger meeting with Blue Jays’ staff, aiming to begin Single-A rehab assignment this weekend
- The Blue Jays continue their agonizing battle with .500