After a strong couple of weeks, the Blue Jays find themselves in a spot that they haven’t experienced since late May against the Tampa Bay Rays. Heading into Sunday afternoon, the Jays are looking to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Phillies. They were unsuccessful against the Rays back then, so Toronto is hoping to rewrite the script on Father’s Day Sunday.

Heading to the mound for Toronto is Jose Berrios, who is coming off a strong start against the St. Louis Cardinals earlier this week, holding the birds to four hits and two walks while throwing a scoreless 6 2/3 innings.

Berrios has been on a tear as of late, allowing just 13 earned runs through his last 42 innings and seven starts. His ERA has now dropped to 3.38 for the season across 82 2/3 innings, and the Puerto Rican product owns a 1.246 WHIP and a 4.36 FIP. His statcast metrics are still trending in the wrong direction – he sits under the 50th percentile in almost every pitching category outside of hard-hit% (61st), fastball run value (57th), breaking run value (53rd), and pitching run value (52nd) – but he’s been able to limit the damage.

The Jays have won their last three starts when Berrios has taken the mound, and the last time he faced Philadelphia back on June 4th, he held the Phillies to four hits, one earned run, and two walks while striking out five across six innings.

Opposite Berrios this afternoon will be Zack Wheeler, who has been one of the most dominant starters in the NL East this year.

Wheeler owns an impressive 2.85 ERA and a 2.97 FIP through 13 starts and 82 innings. He’s allowed just 26 earned runs compared to 101 strikeouts and has limited opposing bats to a 6.0 H/9 and a .576 OPS. The right-hander has amassed a 0.902 WHIP so far this season and ranks in the 98th percentile in terms of pitching run value (+16). Working with six different pitches, his four-seam fastball is used 41.5% compared to his sinker, sweeper, split-finger, cutter, and curveball (all 9.5% to 15.5%) and his fastball has held opponents to a .232 wOBA with a 35.4% K-rate.

The Jays did not face Wheeler during their previous series earlier this month.

Lineup-wise, Bo Bichette is slotting into the DH spot while Ernie Clement takes over at the shortstop position. George Springer gets the day off while Will Robertson will make his Major League debut today in right field, slotting into the eighth spot in the lineup. Alan Roden will occupy left field while Jonatan Clase slots into centre field.

Location: Citizens Bank Park – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

First Pitch: 1:35 PM EST

Watch/Listen: Sportsnet / Sportsnet 590 The Fan

Toronto Blue Jays – Jose Berrios: 2-2 record, 3.38 ERA, 82 2/3 IP, 71 SO, 32 BB

Philadelphia Phillies – Zack Wheeler: 6-2 record, 2.85 ERA, 82 IP, 101 SO, 19 BB