It’s frustrating to watch the Toronto Blue Jays. You simply never know what you’re going to get from them one day to the next.

Things looked good for the Jays earlier this week when they left Fenway Park with a three-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox. This followed a productive visit to new Yankee Stadium where the good guys took two of three games from their hosts.

Jul 30, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Anthony Gose (8) center fielder Colby Rasmus (28) and first baseman Jose Bautista (19) celebrate after defeating the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

The Jays rode this momentum into Houston for a four-game series against the lowly Astros. They managed to win the first game of the series 6-5 despite conceding the lead twice, but their luck quickly faded after this. Toronto would lose the next three games of the series by a combined score difference of 17-4. They also left 18 runners on base and 13 runners in scoring position across these three games.

In today’s matchup, the Jays had no answer for veteran pitcher Scott Feldman, who held them to one run on eight hits over eight innings of solid work (it was his first complete game of the season). Marcus Stroman (five earned runs), Todd Redmond (one unearned run) and Chad Jenkins (no damage) struggled in response for the Jays. Fortunately, Aaron Sanchez and Dustin McGowan each provided the Jays a clean inning of work, which helps to ease some of the pain. (This Sanchez kid looks like the real deal!)

Overall, the Jays went 6-4 on their recent ten-game road trip. That’s not bad, eh?

Toronto now heads home for one day of rest before hosting the Baltimore Orioles and the Detroit Tigers over their next six games. The Jays currently sit 3.5 games behind Baltimore for first place in the American League East – a gap that could expand to four games or shrink to three games depending on the outcome of tomorrow’s makeup game between the Orioles and the Washington Nationals – but Toronto’s grip on the final Wild Card spot remains at 2.5 games following the Seattle Mariners’ loss to the Orioles earlier this afternoon. The New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals, however, could make some ground on the Jays if they both manage to win today.

Mark Buehrle, who’s coming off his 11th win of the season on Wednesday and his first win since June 1st, will open the series against Baltimore. Bud Norris will counter for the Orioles.

Looking back at their missed opportunities this weekend, did the Jays fail to take the Astros seriously or did they simply get outplayed by a hungrier team? Let us know in the comments section below.