GDB 101.0: Toronto Blue Jays face tough test in LA Dodgers

We’re now 100 games through the Toronto Blue Jays’ regular season, and the team finds themself in a familiar place.

Boasting a 55-45 record and .550 W-L%, it mirrors the exact same number that it did a year ago when the Jays completed 62 percent of their games.

The difference? Last year, the Jays found them 13 games back of the division lead and two games up in the wild card race with a +56 run differential.

This year? Same record, but they’re seven games back of the division lead, are holding onto a wildcard spot, and have a +37 run differential.

In each of the last two years, we’ve seen the Jays put the pedal down and improve on their W-L percentage by season’s end. While it’s only been to the tune of two or three extra wins down the stretch, every single game counts. Last year, for example, Toronto got home-field advantage in the wild card series finishing two games up on the Mariners in the wild card race.

Tonight, the Jays open up what should be a highly entertaining three-game set against the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers, who sit atop the NL West with a four-game cushion over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

We’ll get a look at Jose Berrios up against Michael Grove tonight, Chris Bassitt against struggling lefty Julio Urias, and the finale will see Yusei Kikuchi and Tony Gonsolin take the mounds.

Set a pot of coffee, because it’s going to be a late few nights.

First pitch: 10:10 p.m. EST

Toronto Blue Jays: 55-45, 6.5 GB, – WCGB, +37 DIFF.

LA Dodgers: 57-41, – GB, – WCGB, +106 DIFF.

Moneyline: TOR +100; LAD -118.

TOR: Jose Berrios RHP – 8-7, 20 GS, 119.1 IP. 3.39 ERA, 3.82 FIP, 1.165 WHIP, 8.6 SO/9, 2.6 BB/9.

LAD: Michael Grove RHP – 2-2, 9 GS, 52.0 IP. 6.40 ERA, 4.82 FIP, 1.538 WHIP, 8.1 SO/9, 2. BB/9.

Tune into the latest edition of Blue Jays Nation Radio as the crew talks about the Jays’ latest series against the Seattle Mariners.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.