GDB -8.0: The Hound Takes The Mound as Blue Jays take on Braves

The Hound is back on the mound.

Chris Bassitt and the Toronto Blue Jays will line up against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday afternoon, as Toronto gets into the thick of their Spring Training schedule. It marks Bassitt’s second appearance, having thrown three scoreless innings already in which he allowed one run.

Toronto, meanwhile, is running an… interesting top-of-the-order today. George Springer is hitting leadoff, where he’s expected to this season, but Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will bat second, Justin Turner third and Bo Bichette will take mop up duties. John Schneider and his staff are clearly trying something new today, given that Guerrero Jr. has taken just 21 percent of his career at-bats there.

It’s a spot typically manned by Bo Bichette, thanks to his ability to get on base and his good-not-great speed to get into scoring position.

This is the time of the year to tweak and try things, so I don’t mind that from the Jays staff.

First pitch: 1:07 p.m. EST — TV: Sportsnet. Radio: MLB.com.

Moneyline: TOR -250; ATL +195.
Spread: TOR -1.5 -118; ATL +1.5 -102.
Over/Under: o9.5 +110; u9.5 -133.

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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@thenationnetwork.com.