Hayden Wesneski's strong start, Taylor Trammell's homer power Houston Astros past Toronto Blue Jays
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A day after the Houston Astros did not add pitching at the trade deadline, one of the starters they are counting on to contribute down the stretch helped them even a series.
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In his second outing back from Tommy John surgery, right-hander Hayden Wesneski worked a quality start that gave the Astros' offense time to stir in a 7-2 win over the Blue Jays at Daikin Park. Houston, which had a six-game winning streak snapped Monday, has won 12 of 14 and sits at 59-56.
More impact from the bottom half of its lineup, a trend on this homestand, buoyed it Tuesday. Jose Altuve struck three hits, scoring twice and driving in two runs from the sixth spot. Taylor Trammell's three-run home run off Toronto reliever Chad Dallas capped a four-run fifth.
That backed an encouraging start by Wesneski, who allowed two runs across six innings. Turning from the asking prices for pitching Monday leaves the Astros relying on two starters - Wesneski and Ronel Blanco - who recently returned from elbow surgeries.
General manager Dana Brown described their returns Monday as "in itself like a trade acquisition," a platitude that may resemble one less if both perform. Houston has won each of Wesneski's starts, an auspicious beginning to that plan.
Toronto starter Trey Yesavage exited after two innings Tuesday, requiring the Blue Jays to turn quickly toward relief. Dallas covered three innings, with the Astros scoring twice in the fourth and four times during what proved a decisive fifth.
Jose Altuve stays hot
This season has not met career standards for Altuve, who entered Tuesday with a .236/.299/.385 slash line and a 92 OPS-plus and acknowledged frustration in the first half. A strong closing stretch from the second baseman would behoove both him and the Astros.
Altuve's three-hit night Tuesday marked his fifth multi-hit game in his last seven. He is 11-for-28 during that stretch.
His two-out infield single in the fourth inning was the Astros' first hit and sparked a rally. Dallas walked Trammell. Yainer Diaz and Cam Smith both followed with singles to score runs.
In the fifth, Altuve lined a two-out RBI single off the glove of third baseman Kazuma Okamoto that broke a 2-2 tie. Trammell, then, laced a first-pitch curveball from Dallas into the right-field seats to create a four-run lead.
Houston Astros' Jose Altuve hits a RBI single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) (David J. Phillip/Associated Press)How did Hayden Wesneski fare?
Both of Wesneski's outings since his return from Tommy John surgery have been fairly efficient. He threw 79 pitches in 5 ⅔ innings at Angel Stadium, falling one out short of a quality start. Tuesday, he delivered one, navigating six innings on 78 pitches and departing with a 6-2 lead.
Toronto has an aggressive and contact-happy offense. Wesneski coaxed enough weak contact out of it to avoid damage outside of one inning. The Blue Jays chased at a 44% clip against him and averaged only an 86.4 mph exit velocity on 17 balls put into play.
Myles Straw, the former Astros center fielder, was his main tormenter. The ninth hitter in Toronto's order, Straw struck a third-inning double for its first hit and was stranded. In the fifth, Andrés Giménez poked a grounder to the left side that bled through a shifted infield for a single. Straw followed with a triple over the head of erstwhile teammate Daulton Varsho in center field.
His swing halved a two-run deficit. Wesneski then bounced a two-strike pitch that allowed Straw to score and forge a 2-2 tie. After the Astros' four-run response, Wesneski returned for a scoreless sixth.
His exit after 78 pitches indicates Houston is being prudent with his workload initially upon his return. So far, the results are encouraging for a team that needs it.
Why Trey Yesavage left early
After throwing two scoreless innings, Yesavage jogged to the mound to start the bottom of the third but appeared to feel discomfort in his left leg. A team trainer and Blue Jays manager John Schneider went to the mound to check on Yesavage, who tried one practice pitch and was removed from the game.
The Blue Jays announced in-game that Yesavage had exited due to "left knee discomfort."
Yesavage entered the game with a 3.73 ERA across 17 starts this season. That included a June 24 outing against the Astros in Toronto, in which the right-hander allowed two hits and one run over 5 ⅔ innings. He retired six of seven batters faced Tuesday, the exception a first-inning walk to Jeremy Peña.
Updates on Mike Burrows, Brice Matthews
Right-hander Mike Burrows, who is on the injured list due to elbow neuritis, is scheduled to pitch in a rehab game Friday in Florida, manager Joe Espada said. Burrows is expected to throw "a few innings," which will be his first game action since being placed on the IL retroactive to July 7.
Outfielder Brice Matthews, who is rehabbing from a left knee sprain in Houston, took on-field batting practice and ground balls Tuesday at Daikin Park. His next step will be running bases to test the knee, which Espada said is "close."
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There’s more to Houston with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Hayden Wesneski's strong start, Taylor Trammell's homer power Houston Astros past Toronto Blue Jays.