Houston @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 25, 2018 ) Houston 4, Toronto 1

The Houston Astros celebrated consecutive division titles for the first time since a three-peat from 1997-99 early Wednesday morning. Winners of five in a row and 18 of 22 in September, the American League West champion Astros (100-57) may take liberties with their lineup on Wednesday afternoon when they play the series finale versus the host Toronto Blue Jays (71-87).

Alex Bregman went deep for a team-leading 31st time this season when he belted a two-run homer in the first inning on Tuesday to extend his club-record streak of reaching base safely on the road to 53 games. The 24-year-old Bregman has tormented Toronto this season, going 12-for-23 with 10 extra-base hits (six doubles, four homers) to go along with nine RBIs. While Houston has an eye on the playoffs, the Blue Jays have no such plans and dropped their third in a row overall and fourth straight to the Astros this season. Aledmys Diaz had a single and double on Tuesday to improve to 7-for-16 during his five-game hitting streak and 7-for-15 against the Astros this season.

TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, MLB Network, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), Sportsnet (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Chris Devenski (2-2, 4.12 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Sean Reid-Foley (2-4, 5.40)

Devenski will begin a "bullpen day" for Houston when he makes his sixth appearance since coming off the disabled list on Aug. 29. The 27-year-old surrendered a homer in the first two contests of September before tossing a scoreless inning of relief in back-to-back encounters versus Seattle on Sept. 18-19. Devenski also tossed a scoreless inning of work in his lone appearance against Toronto this season and has held the current crop of Blue Jays to going 3-for-15 with six strikeouts.

Reid-Foley will receive another start in a decision that was necessitated after fellow right-hander Aaron Sanchez underwent surgery on his right index finger. The 23-year-old Reid-Foley allowed four runs on six hits over four innings of an 11-3 setback versus Tampa Bay last Friday. Reid-Foley has struggled with his control, issuing four walks in back-to-back contests to raise his total to 20 in six outings (30 innings).

WALK-OFFS

1. Houston 1B Yuli Gurriel is 20-for-45 with three homers, 15 RBIs and nine runs scored during his 11-game hitting streak.

2. Blue Jays DH Kendrys Morales is 0-for-11 with five strikeouts versus the Astros this season.

3. Houston SS Carlos Correa (back) is expected to return from a six-game absence on Wednesday and start at designated hitter.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 5, Astros 2