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HOUSTON -- Having dropped consecutive series for the first time since early June, the Houston Astros will open a critical seven-game homestand starting Monday night against the Toronto Blue Jays with an injury-ravaged roster contributing to their slump. Wholesale Basketball Shoes Shop .After losing two of three at home to the New York Yankees, the Astros (55-49) were swept in Detroit, bookending a demoralizing 3-2 loss on Saturday night with two blowout losses.Houston also lost third baseman Luis Valbuena and center fielder Carlos Gomez to right hamstring strains on consecutive days and will learn of the status of utility infielder Marwin Gonzalez on Monday. Gonzalez has been sidelined by hand soreness.The Astros have lost five of six games and, after clawing to within 2 1/2 games of the Texas Rangers last week, dropped six games behind in their pursuit of the American League West pennant.The opener against Toronto could be influenced by more roster flux. Right-hander Doug Fister is slated to start but might land on the paternity list in anticipation of the birth of his first child. That situation facilitated the arrival on Sunday of right-hander Joe Musgrove (7-4, 2.74 ERA in the minors this year), who could make his major league debut.Were still in a holding pattern, Astros manager A.J. Hinch told MLB.com. This may be a photo finish for the game tomorrow. Until my phone lights up with a text or a call from (Fister), its sort of status quo.Right-hander Marcus Stroman (8-4, 4.92) will get the start for the Blue Jays. Stroman was at his best in July, finishing 2-0 with a 3.71 ERA in five starts, notching 30 strikeouts against four walks in 34 innings.Stroman is 0-1 with a 15.00 ERA in his career against the Astros, having surrendered five runs, seven hits and one walk with one strikeout in three innings in his lone start against them.Having assumed the role of staff ace after the offseason departure of left-hander David Price, Stroman has endured an inconsistent year, one that took a positive turn in July when he posted his best numbers to date.The Blue Jays (59-46) briefly surged into first place in the AL East before dropping their series finale against the Baltimore Orioles 6-2 in 12 innings on Sunday. The loss was their first against the Orioles after a five-game series winning streak and capped a month in which Toronto finished 16-8, its best record in any month this season.Locked in a battle with the Orioles and Red Sox for the AL East title while also fending off a host of contenders, including the Astros, in the wild-card chase, the Blue Jays have been subject to countless rumors as the trading deadline nears. And while the recent additions of right-hander Joaquin Benoit and outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. are likely to provide a lift, they dont preclude Toronto from doing more.To be honest with you, I dont think about it too much, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons told MLB.com of the rampant trade rumors. Weve already made a couple of deals, so you never know. Everybodys rumored to be going here or going there, but you dont hear about anybody out in that room. Cheap Basketball Shoes China .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Cheap Basketball Shoes Store . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. http://www.cheapbasketballshoesstore.net...all-shoes-china . Supported by three-run homers from Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos, the young right-hander went seven strong innings in the Washington Nationals 8-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night. SALT LAKE CITY -- Eight months of work toward a singular goal has come to an end for No. 21 Utah and each player seems to be dealing with the loss in his own way.Oregon traveled to Salt Lake City and upset Utah 30-28 on Saturday, ending the Utes hopes of winning the Pac-12 South.Utah coach Kyle Whittingham made no secret that winning the division was the objective for 2016 and the next step in the growth of the program. He said Monday that winning a 10th bowl game in 12 seasons was another goal, but thats more of a given considering the state of the program. Winning the Pac-12 championship was another target, but Utah (8-3, 5-3 Pac-12) needed to win the division first.So how does one deal with sudden disappointment?Senior receiver Tim Patrick was clearly still upset Monday but is looking forward to facing No. 9 Colorado and the chance to show the nation who we really are. He noted that a 10-win season doesnt replace the motivation for a championship.I want them to feel how we felt after Oregon, Patrick said. You always have to find something to play for. Were playing the No. 9 team in the country at their place. Theyre going to be jumping because its going to be their first time having a chance to go to the Pac-12 championship. I like playing the spoiler.Cornerback Justin Thomas was more upbeat than Patrick but said playing the spoiler role didnt mean much to him. The senior said theyre playing for pride.I was kind of down, hurt, obviously, Thomas said. Youve just got to move forward because you cant do anything about it and try to win that last game. You can see Tim is not feeling it at all. It takes time, theyll be back.Quarterback Troy Williams was introspective after the loss. He thought back to transferring from Washington and spending a year without a scholarship at Santa Monica College before transferring to Utah. Cheap Nike Chris Paul Basketball Shoes China. I just tried to remember how blessed I am to be here, Williams said. How blessed we all are to be in this position -- win, lose or draw. A lot of people would kill to be at this university playing football. I just try to think about that and take that into consideration. Everybody was pretty set on winning the Pac-12 South. Now we just have to focus on going out there and getting a W.Running back Joe Williams refused to even discuss the Oregon loss during postgame interviews.The loss was more frustrating than any other this season, Whittingham said.There was anger in the locker room after losing to No. 6 Washington but everyone knew the division title was still attainable. Not only did the Ducks end a potential title run, they are a sub-.500 team that won on a touchdown pass with two seconds remaining that was ruled out of bounds before the call was overturned upon review.(A hangover) is always a concern when you have an emotional game like we had, Whittingham said, and something that ends like it did. Such a disappointment. ... But this team has shown the ability all year long to bounce back and play well. So we expect to do that. Youre competitive and you want to win and thats who you are. If youre not that way, you dont belong in our program.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Kareem Copeland on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kareemcopeland . ' ' '