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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.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. Andy Isabella Cardinals Jersey . At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line. Arizona Cardinals Jerseys . They reached the 100-point plateau for the fourth time in five games, bested the visiting Trail Blazers by 34 in the paint and scored 19 of the final 25 points in regulation. http://www.thecardinalsshoponline.com/Youth-Pat-Tillman-Cardinals-Jersey/ . The injury bothered Bledsoe in the Suns victory over the Clippers on Monday and he sat out the teams home loss to Memphis on Thursday night. Byron Murphy Jersey . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. Zach Allen Youth Jersey . No. 13-seeded John Isner and No. 21 Philipp Kohlschreiber were among six players who dropped out of the tournament on Tuesday, joining No. 12 seed Tommy Haas and two other players who withdrew on Monday. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Gabriele Rossetti made a golden addition to the familys medal collection.The Mustache stole the show, however.Rossetti was perfect while capturing gold in mens skeet, 24 years after his father took bronze in the same event. But it was mustachioed independent athlete Abdullah Al-Rashidi who earned bronze and the fans hearts Saturday at the Rio de Janeiro Games.I am happy. I dont know why they help me, but thank you, Al-Rashidi said.Rossetti, the 21-year-old Italian prodigy with deep-rooted skeet genes, was the favorite heading into Rio, and he lived up to expectations -- after surviving a shoot-off to get into the final.Needing to make up ground heading into the final day, Rossetti didnt miss a shot, with 25 straight targets in the second qualifying stage and 12 more in the four-person shoot-off.He hit all 16 semifinal targets and matched that against Swedens Marcus Svensson in the gold-medal match. Rossetti earned the gold when Svensson missed his final shot, giving the Italian a brighter medal than the bronze his father, Bruno, earned at the 1992 Barcelona Games.I didnt think about my fathers medal before the competition, but now I have added to the family medal collection, Rossetti said.Al-Rashidi, 52, who trains falcons when hes not shooting, has a long shooting history.His Olympic debut came at the 1996 Atlanta Games, and Rio was his sixth time on sports biggest stage. A three-time world champion, he had never earned an Olympic medal, though; Rio was his first final.He was unable to compete for his country after Kuwaits national Olympic committee was suspended by the International Olympic Committee for government interference. He and the other Kuwaiti athletes who qualified -- double trap gold medalist Fehaid Al-Deehani among them -- were allowed to compete as an independent team under the IOC flag.Al-Rashidi tied as the top qualifier in Rio and became an instant fan favorite once the finals begin.ddddddddddddThe capacity crowd, most of it Brazilian, latched on to the underdog in the Arsenal jersey -- he liked the way it looked and felt -- and cheered wildly when he was introduced and with every target he shattered.Al-Rashidi played up to the adulation, waving his arms and pumping his fists to their cheers during introductions, spurring the fans even more.He ended the semifinals in a three-way tie with Denmarks Jesper Hansen and Stefan Nilsson, forcing a shoot-off for a spot in the bronze-medal match. Al-Rashidi shot last in the threesome, and the crowd knew he had a chance to move on after Hansen and Nilsson each missed one, screaming and waving flags before the Kuwaitis turn.Playing the showman again, Al-Rashidi raised his gun in the air and flashed a thumbs-up as the cheers continued. An official at Al-Rashidis station tried to urge the Kuwaiti shooter to take his turn, but he shrugged and pointed at the crowd as if to say, What am I supposed to do?He hit both shots, setting off another round of cheers and a shot at the bronze against Ukraines Mikola Milchev.Al-Rashidi was perfect in the bronze-medal match. He raised his arms in the air, dropped to his knees and kissed the ground. He rose and threw his hat in the air as the crowd chanted in Portuguese: Ole, ole, ole, Mustache!We like his mustache, so we start to chant, one Brazilian fan said.The man with the mustache -- he actually trimmed it recently -- soaked in the adulation, again raising his arms after receiving his bronze medal as another chant about his facial hair rang out across the Olympic Shooting Centre.I am Brazilian, Al-Rashidi said. I am from Brazil. ' ' '