News and Notes as the Blue Jays head to Atlanta

It feels like it’s been a month since the Blue Jays last played a game. But we’re finally back as the team will kick off a three-game series in Atlanta.

The four-day break, though a huge buzzkill, allowed the Jays some time to get healthy. Travis Shaw will be returning from the bereavement list and it’s also expected that Randal Grichuk will return after missing the Washington series with a back issue.

It also looks like we’ll see Chase Anderson get activated from the Injured List at some point this week. Anderson, of course, was projected to be a part of the team’s starting rotation but got injured during Summer Camp. With Nate Pearson in the rotation, it’s likely that Anderson will be put in a bullpen role.

In Braves news, Mike Soroka injured his ACL and will miss the remainder of the season. That’s really, really shitty news for the Canadian.

Here are the expected pitching match-ups this week…

With Soroka injured, Max Fried now has the responsibility of being Atlanta’s ace. The lefty is off to a great start to the season. Through two starts and 11 2/3 innings, he’s scattered just three runs on five hits and three walks. Fried uses a fastball and a sinker but his curveball is his elite pitch. Matt Shoemaker will have to be sharp for the Blue Jays in this one, as he was in his debut against Tampa Bay.

After spending a good chunk of 2019 being used as a reliever, Sean Newcomb is back in Atlanta’s starting rotation. Newcomb has struggled in both of his starts this season, both of which have been against the Mets. He’s tossed 7 1/3 innings, allowing seven earned runs with an ugly five to three strikeout to walk ratio. Hyun Jin Ryu has also struggled in his first couple of starts as a Blue Jay. His velocity has been down from where it usually is and he’s struggled with his command.

Nate Pearson will make the second start of his career in the series finale on Thursday. Pearson, of course, was ace-like against the Nationals in his debut last week, so hopefully, we see that again. He’ll be up against another young starter in Touki Toussaint, who has an 8.10 ERA through two appearances, one of which was a start and the other being a relief appearance. Toussant has electric stuff, as made evident by his 14.9 strikeouts per nine early on.