After a tumultuous start to the season, the Toronto Blue Jays (27-29, fifth in the AL East) appear to be finding a semblance of consistency heading into Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates (26-31, fourth in the NL Central).
Winners of four in a row, the Jays are hoping this stretch — albeit against lesser competition — can spark a run that helps them climb out of a 4.5-game hole and into a wild-card spot.
A win on Saturday would earn Toronto its first five-game win streak of the season, having won four in a row on just one other occasion.
Meanwhile, the Pirates have been struggling, losing four of their last five, and failing to recapture the magic that propelled them to a 5-0 start to the season.
In Game 1 of their series and their first face-off of the season on Friday, the Blue Jays came out victorious after a grueling 14-inning affair that was ended courtesy of a two-run homer from Davis Schneider.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Blue Jays: Yusei Kikuchi (2-4, 3.25 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 61 strikeouts)
The Japanese lefty’s previous time on the mound ended quickly after he was pulled three innings into last Sunday’s game against the Detroit Tigers. Kikuchi gave up five runs, all earned, on eight hits and a home run.
Pirates: Mitch Keller (6-3, 3.59 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 58 strikeouts)
Pittsburgh’s ace is coming off a solid outing vs. the Atlanta Braves last week. Keller picked up a win after pitching 6.2 innings, giving up one run on six hits with four strikeouts.
TOP PERFORMERS
Blue Jays: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has 10 doubles and five home runs for the Blue Jays. Isiah Kiner-Falefa is 12-for-35 with three doubles, a triple, two home runs and five RBI over the past 10 games.
Pirates: Andrew McCutchen leads the Pirates with eight home runs while slugging .405. Nick Gonzales is 15-for-39 with three doubles, a triple, a home run and 10 RBI over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES
Blue Jays: 6-4, .245 batting average, 3.03 ERA, outscored opponents by 15 runs
Pirates: 5-5, .235 batting average, 4.07 ERA, outscored by three runs
INJURIES
Blue Jays: Alek Manoah: 15-day IL (elbow), Yariel Rodriguez: 15-day IL (spine), Bowden Francis: 15-day IL (forearm), Jordan Romano: 15-day IL (elbow)
Pirates: Martin Perez: 15-day IL (groin), Joey Bart: 10-day IL (thumb), Jason Delay: 60-day IL (knee), Marco Gonzales: 15-day IL (forearm), Ryan Borucki: 15-day IL (left triceps inflammation), Dauri Moreta: 60-day IL (elbow), Endy Rodriguez: 60-day IL (elbow), Johan Oviedo: 60-day IL (elbow)
— With files from Associated Press
from Sportsnet.ca
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