TORONTO — The Houston Astros are on the verge of clinching first in the American League West.They moved one step closer by defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 Monday night in the opener of a three-game series at the Rogers Centre.The 2017 World Series champions own a 4 1/2-game lead over the Oakland Athletics in the division.Article continues below ...They Astros (99-57) will start rookie right-hander Josh James (1-0 [url=http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-david-freese-jersey]David Freese Jersey[/url] , 2.81 ERA) Tuesday in the second game. The Blue Jays (71-86) will start right-hander Sam Gaviglio (3-8, 5.16).James has never faced the Blue Jays. He will be making his third start in his fifth big-league appearance.Gaviglio has not won since Aug. 21 and in four starts since is 0-2 with a 6.38 ERA. In two career starts against the Astros, both last season, he is 0-2, 5.25.“I think everybody’s really excited about us closing in on 100 wins, closing in on the division title,” said Astros third baseman Alex Bregman who had an RBI double Monday and has reached base safely in 52 straight road games, a club record. “But there’s only one thing on our minds, that’s winning the World Series again.”In addition to the division race, there were other story lines to the series.One of them received a jolt after the first inning Monday when Blue Jays shortstop Lourdes Gurriel Jr. left the game with a tight left hamstring after hitting into a double play.The 24-year-old Cuban was playing against his older brother Yuli for the first time in the majors Monday and it is not certain whether he will return to play in the series.Yuli [url=http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-tyler-glasnow-jersey]Tyler Glasnow Jersey[/url] , 34, extended his hit streak to 10 games with an RBI single in the first. The Astros first baseman went 2-for-4 and is batting .439 (18-for-41) during his streak.The other story involved Roberto Osuna, the former Blue Jays closer who was booed all during the ninth when he pitched around a single for his 10th save since he was traded to the Astros July 30 and his 19th overall this season. Osuna faces an assault charge that brought a 75-game suspension from major league baseball.“It was really weird,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. “Kind of mixed emotions, but I knew there was a good chance he was probably going to get it done. I’ve seen him do it too many times.”“I think he wanted the save,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “I think he wanted the ball like he always does. I’m sure it was emotional for him.”As for the crowd reaction, Hinch said: “It was pretty expected.”Closer, Ken Giles, who was traded by the Astros to the Blue Jays as part of the deal for Osuna, did not pitch Monday.The Astros continued to play without shortstop Carlos Correa Monday. He was shut down during the Astros’ recent homestand with lingering back and oblique tightness. Hinch said the earliest he could return is Wednesday.“He’s feeling a little bit better [url=http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-adam-frazier-jersey]http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-adam-frazier-jersey[/url] ,” Hinch said. “I’m encouraged by the fact that he’s doing baseball activities and feeling pain-free, which is the key.”The Astros reinstated right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. from the 10-day disabled list Monday and recalled left-hander Reymin Guduan.The Astros are 17-4 during September, the best record in the majors. They are 53-22 away from home, matching their club-record road win total set last season.Houston is 3-1 against Toronto this season. The Blue Jays outhit the Astros 11-10 Monday. It was the second time in as many games that they have lost while outhitting the opposition and the 10th time this season overall. CLEVELAND (AP) — The Indians have some tough decisions to make this offseason. The one on Carlos Carrasco was simple.Cleveland picked up its $9.75 million contract option for next season on the right-hander, who has developed into one of the AL’s most consistent and dominating pitchers over the past few years.The team declined its $3 million option for 2019 on outfielder Brandon Guyer, who battled through injuries last season. He’ll get a $250,000 buyout and become a free agent. It’s very possible he’ll re-sign with the Indians, who value what he brings on and off the field.The 31-year-old Carrasco went 17-10 with a 3.38 ERA in 30 starts last season for the AL Central champions. He also recorded a team-high 231 strikeouts in 192 innings as the Indians became the first team in baseball history to have four pitchers top the 200-strikeout plateau.The team has another option for 2020 on the right-hander, who has gone 35-16 with a 3.33 ERA over the past two seasons.“We believe Carlos has established himself as one of the top starters in the American League and has been a contributor to our team over the last few seasons,” team president Chris Antonetti said. “So [url=http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-chad-kuhl-jersey]Chad Kuhl Jersey[/url] , we’re obviously elated to continue his time with the team and the organization, and we expect him to make a big impact on our team for the next few seasons.”Carrasco is one of just four pitchers in club history to surpass 200 strikeouts three times.The Indians are expected to have their entire rotation — Carrasco, Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Mike Clevinger and Shane Bieber — back next season.Guyer, 32, batted .206 with seven homers and 27 RBIs in 103 games. He joined the Indians in 2016, coming over in a mid-season trade from Tampa Bay.Antonetti said the decision on Guyer was “very difficult” but there is mutual interest in him coming back.“Where we ended is that we thought we would be best declining the option, leaving the door open to bring Brandon back, but maybe under potentially different terms [url=http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-ivan-nova-jersey]http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-ivan-nova-jersey[/url] ,” Antonetti said. “He’s been a contributing member of our team for the last two and a half seasons and has made a very big impact at times. He battled through some injuries.“When he was healthy, we saw a guy that was capable of impacting our team and hitting in the middle of the order against left-handed pitching.”Guyer joins a long list of Indians free agents, which include closer Cody Allen, outfielders, Michael Brantley, Melky Cabrera, Lonnie Chisenhall and Rajai Davis and relievers Andrew Miller and Oliver Perez.Cleveland has exclusive negotiating rights with its free agents until Friday, which is also the deadline for extend one-year qualifying offers ($17.9 million) to any free agents in order to potentially get draft-pick compensation if they sign elsewhere.