GDB 94.0: The Yusei Kikuchi Revenge Tour continues as Toronto Blue Jays look to sweep Arizona Diamondbacks

The Blue Jays have done their part.

They won their first series out of the All-Star break taking two of three games against the Arizona Diamondbacks over Friday and Saturday.

And now, in a lefty-lefty matchup, Yusei Kikuchi will head to the mound as Toronto looks for the sweep.

The Yusei Kikuchi Revenge Tour has continued chugging along this season with the rotation man’s ERA being the best of his five-year career in the major leagues. Still an imperfect pitcher, the overall improvement in his game over his disastrous 2022 season have been important.

I mean come on — Kikcuhi is winning 70 percent of his games!

That, coupled with his ERA being a career-best and his ERA+ actualizing back to league average at 99, and you’ve got the making of a strong fifth man in the rotation.

First pitch: 1:37 p.m. EST

Toronto Blue Jays: 52-41, 7.0 GB, +1.0 WCGB, +42 DIFF.

Arizona Diamondbacks: 52-41, 2.0 GB, +0.5 WCGB, +19 DIFF.

Moneyline: TOR -161; ARI +137.

TOR: Yusei Kikuchi LHP – 7-3, 18 GS, 93.1 IP. 4.24 ERA, 5.19 FIP, 1.286 WHIP, 9.3 SO/9, 2.6 BB/9.

ARI: Tommy Henry LHP – 5-1, 13 GS, 74.1 IP. 3.75 ERA, 5.26 FIP, 1.318 WHIP, 6.2 SO/9, 3.5 BB/9.

Tune into the latest edition of Blue Jays Nation Radio as the crew talks about the Jays’ over the All-Star break.

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.