What Can Brown Do For You?

The Astros have legitimate World Series aspirations, and they've been waiting all season for Hunter Brown to look like the ace everyone expected. Well, he's finally there, and Houston is rolling because of it.

Brown has put together back-to-back dominant starts, posting a 1.42 ERA while striking out 12 batters over his last 12 innings. Even better, this isn't a one-off. He's also had plenty of success against Toronto, carrying a 1.64 ERA against the Blue Jays and allowing just one run in their late-June matchup.

On the other side, it's a completely different story.

The Blue Jays hand the ball to Jameson Taillon, and things have gone from bad to worse. Toronto's newest starter owns a 5.92 ERA this season and is coming off a disastrous outing in which he surrendered seven runs. He hasn't earned a win in nine consecutive starts, posting an ugly 7.19 ERA during that stretch.

That's a terrible recipe against an Astros lineup that's heating up at exactly the right time. Houston scored seven runs last night and seven more two nights earlier. In fact, the Astros have plated five or more runs in five of their last six games, while Toronto has managed just six total runs over its last three contests.

Everything points in one direction here. Houston has the hotter offense, the far better pitcher, and all the momentum.

Give me the Astros. I expect Hunter Brown to continue his dominant stretch, shut down the Blue Jays' offense, and lead Houston to a comfortable home victory.

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