The set-up: The 70-39 Houston Astros still own the AL's best record (9 1/2 games better than Boston) but yesterdays' 16-7 win over Toronto makes them a modest 10-10 since the All Star break. The team's offense has been of the boom-or-bust variety of late, and surely Friday qualifies as a boom! Houston rode a nine-run fourth inning (which featured three HRs) to a 16-run, 18-hit effort. The loss keeps the Blue Jays in last place in the American League East at 51-58 and reportedly the Jays may be reassessing their future. Toronto by pushing their veteran players through revocable waivers, as playoff hopes are at a season-low.

The pitching matchup: Marco Estrada (4-7 & 5.19 ERA) is one veteran reportedly going through waivers for Toronto and will take the mound against Houston's Charlie Morton (9-4 & 3.77 ERA). Estrada has allowed a total of three runs on seven hits in 12 innings over his last two outings but settled for two no-decisions (Toronto was 1-1). The fact is, Estrada is win-less over his last 11 starts (last win came back on May 27), going 0-5 in that span, with the Jays going 3-8. He's 2-0 with a 2.61 ERA in five career starts against the Astros (team is 3-2). Morton is working on a "career season," going 4-1 in his last five starts (2.93 ERA). He is enjoying the best strikeout rate of his career with 97 in 88 1/3 innings. Morton struck out just three in six innings at Toronto on July 7 but also surrendered only one run and earned the victory in his lone career starts vs. Toronto.

The pick: Morton's a career journeyman, going 55-75 in 177 appearances, with a 4.47 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and a .271 BAA. I'm not buying his "career numbers" so far! In 13 road starts here in 2017, Estrada owns a 5.37 ERA. Expect another high-scoring game. Make the Over a 10* play.