Toronto @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 23, 2013 ) Toronto 4, Houston 12

In a season full of disappointments, the Toronto Blue Jays hit a new low Friday night. Chien-Ming Wang will look to end Toronto's latest slide as he leads the visitors into the second of a three-game series against the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Toronto - considered a World Series contender prior to the season - dropped the series opener 12-4, losing its sixth consecutive game and falling a season-worst 15 games below .500.

Wang will make his sixth big-league start of the season, and will look to rebound after struggling at the tail end of his previous stint. He'll be opposed by Houston's Brad Peacock, who is seeking his first home victory of the season and is coming off an impressive outing against the Los Angeles Angels. The Astros come in with the league's worst record, and are just 8-20 against the American League East in 2013.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, RSN (Toronto), CSN (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Chien-Ming Wang (1-1, 7.13 ERA) vs. Astros RH Brad Peacock (2-4, 5.59)

Following back-to-back quality starts in mid-June, some Toronto fans wondered if Wang had rediscovered the form that led him to consecutive 19-win seasons with the New York Yankees in 2006-07. His next two starts obliterated all hope of that; he lasted 1 2/3 innings in each, surrendering a total of 13 runs in one-sided losses to Boston and Detroit. Wang tossed five shutout innings in his only career start against Houston back in 2008.

Peacock ended a four-month winless drought in his last outing, limiting the Angels to a pair of unearned runs over 6 1/3 frames. The 25-year-old Florida native is 0-2 with a 6.14 ERA at Minute Maid Park but deserved a better fate in his last start there, settling for a no-decision despite holding Texas to a run on three hits over six innings. Peacock has been susceptible to the long ball, allowing 11 home runs in 48 1/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Nine of Peacock's 12 appearances this season have come on the road.

2. Every Houston starter had a hit Friday except for DH Chris Carter, who went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts and is 4-for-39 against Toronto in his career.

3. Toronto leads the season series 3-2.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 5, Astros 4