The Toronto Blue Jays’ bats exploded for a five-run fifth inning last night at the Rogers Centre, securing a 6-3 win that helped Kevin Gausman improve to 2-1 on the season. Alan Roden collected his first big league home run, Anthony Santander’s three-run blast made it the Jays’ first multi-home run game of the year, and the club chased Spencer Schwellenbach in the fifth inning after tagging him for six runs on the day.

It was a positive upswing for the Jays after being tagged for eight runs on Monday, with the club looking to lock down the series win in today’s afternoon contest that will be filled with kids from across the GTA during the organization’s ‘School Day’ promo for today.

On the mound, Toronto is slated to have Chris Bassitt take the mound, with the right-hander having an impressive start to the season. The right-hander owns a 0.98 ERA through three starts and 18 1/3 innings with just two runs allowed on 17 hits and three walks. Bassitt has struck out 21 batters through the stretch and owns a league-best 1.22 FIP because of the limited damage. His last outing against the Boston Red Sox saw him allow just one run through 5 2/3 innings with five punchouts, and he has yet to allow more than one run in any of his three starts to begin the year.

For his career, Bassitt has fared well against the Atlanta Braves. Through four starts, he has authored a 2.92 ERA through 24 2/3 innings while striking out 24 compared to eight runs and 16 hits.

For Atlanta, one of the top pitchers in the game is making his return after undergoing the modified brace procedure on his elbow early last season. Strider hasn’t appeared in a big league game since last April.

Through three triple-A rehab appearances so far this season, Strider has allowed just two earned runs across 13 2/3 innings to the tune of a 1.32 ERA while striking out 27 batters and walking five. Strider threw as high as 90 pitches in his last start in Gwinnett last Thursday, and while he might be on a pitch count today, there is a chance he can still reach close to 100 pitches and give the Braves some depth in the rotation.

Location: Rogers Centre – Toronto, Canada

First Pitch: 1:07 pm EST

Watch/Listen: Sportsnet / Sportsnet 590 The Fan

Toronto Blue Jays – Chris Bassitt: 1-0 record, 0.98 ERA, 18 1/3 IP, 21 SO, 3 BB

Atlanta Braves – Spencer Strider: 0-0 record, 0.00 ERA, 0 IP, 0 SO, 0 BB