The Toronto Blue Jays elevate an eight-game win streak into a sequence towards some other suffering opponent from the AL Central — the division-leading Minnesota Twins.
Right here’s a take a look at the three-game collection this weekend at Rogers Centre.
Possible pitchers
Friday, 7:07 p.m. ET / 4:07 p.m. PT (Sportsnet ONE): Minnesota RHP Chi Chi Gonzalez (season debut) vs. Toronto LHP Yusei Kikuchi (2-1, 3.48 ERA)
Saturday, 3:07 p.m. ET / 12:07 p.m. PT (Sportsnet): Minnesota RHP Dylan Bundy (3-2, 4.76 ERA) vs. Toronto RHP Jose Berrios (3-2, 5.62 ERA)
Sunday, 1:37 p.m. ET / 10:37 a.m. PT (Sportsnet ONE): Minnesota LHP Devin Smeltzer (2-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. Toronto RHP Kevin Gausman (5-3, 2.51 ERA)
Newest at the Blue Jays
The Blue Jays (30-20) made it two sweeps in a row (their first two of the season) with an 8-3 victory over the visiting Chicago White Sox on Thursday.
Toronto, with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on a leisure day and George Springer sidelined with a non-COVID sickness, showcased its intensity. Raimel Tapia scored two times and Cavan Biggio got here thru with crucial RBI double within the 8th after the White Sox had trimmed the deficit to 4-3.
Teoscar Hernandez belted his first homer since Might 14 and Alek Manoah pitched some other gem, going 7.2 innings whilst giving up 3 runs as Toronto moved a half-game forward of the Tampa Bay Rays within the race for moment within the AL East.
Alternatively, issues weren’t highest for the Blue Jays as starter Hyun Jin Ryu returned to the IL (15-day) for the second one time this yr with forearm irritation. Ross Stripling will fill in for him subsequent week in Kansas Town.
Newest at the Twins
Whilst it’s been a excellent begin to the season for the Twins (30-23), the tide has grew to become lately. Minnesota misplaced 4 video games of a five-game collection in Detroit towards the lowly Tigers – capped via a 3-2 defeat on Thursday.
Daz Cameron’s two-run house run within the 8th grew to become a Tigers deficit right into a lead that might hang up.
The 2 runs Thursday marked the one occasions Minnesota crossed house plate previously 3 video games.
Thankfully for the Twins, the Blue Jays helped their motive via placing the brooms to the White Sox. Minnesota is 4.5 video games forward of the second-place Cleveland Guardians and 5 up on Chicago heading into the weekend.
Depleted roster
Just like the White Sox, the Twins come to Toronto shorthanded.
Most sensible starter Sonny Grey used to be slated to start out Friday’s collection opener, however went at the 15-day IL on Thursday with a proper pectoral pressure.
Gonzalez, who signed a minor-league contract with the workforce this low season, will make his first get started with the Twins in Grey’s position. He’s 9-23 with a 5.64 ERA in his major-league profession with Texas and Colorado.
Every other starter, Joe Ryan, is at the COVID-19 injured checklist in conjunction with most sensible shortstop Carlos Correa — and to make issues worse, the backup shortstop, Royce Lewis (knee), is harm.
In the meantime, Do-Yyoung Park of MLB.com studies 4 Twins shall be at the COVID limited checklist and no longer make the travel to Toronto — outfielder Max Kepler and relievers Caleb Thielbar, Emilio Pagan and Trevor Megill.
In higher information for the Twins, supervisor Rocco Baldelli mentioned outfielder Gilberto Celestino (.324 moderate) will meet the Twins on Friday in Toronto after being at the COVID checklist.
He mentioned it
“We are lovely banged up, COVID and bodily, with other diseases. Even guys which are at the box, we are lovely banged up. … Simply figuring out that it is a lengthy season and groups undergo ebbs and flows, that is simply how it’s.”
— Twins starter Chris Archer to the Megastar Tribune after Thursday’s loss.
Berrios vs. previous workforce
Blue Jays opening-day starter Jose Berrios will glance to get his season again on target on Saturday towards the workforce that drafted him thirty second general in 2012.
Traded to Toronto via Minnesota final July, Berrios used to be 1-1 (12.2 innings, six runs, 16 strikeouts, 3 walks) in two September begins towards the Twins in 2021.
Berrios is coming off a foul time out – simply 2.1 innings whilst giving up six runs towards the Los Angeles Angels final Sunday.
Busy schedules
The Twins are in a stretch of 18 video games in 17 days.
Toronto is in the course of 40 in 41 days – even busier than a 30-in-31 stretch previous this yr.
Managers reunite
Baldelli and Blue Jays supervisor Charlie Montoyo each have been on Kevin Money’s personnel in Tampa Bay earlier than getting their respective jobs in 2019. The 3 stay shut.
Up subsequent
The Blue Jays proceed a stretch of 4 consecutive collection towards AL Central groups with 3 video games in every of Kansas Town and Detroit subsequent week. The Tigers and Royals have the 2 worst information within the department.
