<p>Happy José Bautista weekend.</p>
<p></p>
<p>It&#8217;s been a long time coming, but the Toronto Blue Jays are finally honouring Joey Bats today welcoming him to the Level of Excellence. A journeyman before the Jays acquired him in 2007, Bautista enjoyed the best years of his career becoming a six-time all-star in the process.</p>
<p>He led all of baseball in both 2010 and 2011 with 54 and 43 homers, and over his 10-year tenure in town, added another 194 to the mark.</p>
<p>Today, the Jays will take on the Chicago Cubs in game two of a three-game set, and boy — could they use Bautista&#8217;s bat in the lineup. After scoring 25 runs in three games against the Boston Red Sox en route to a crucial series sweep, the last five games — four against Cleveland and one against the Cubbies last night — they&#8217;ve scored just nine runs.</p>
<p>Woof.</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s see if that can get back on track today.</p>
<hr />
<ul>
<li>The Bautista ceremony kicks off on Sportsnet at 2:30 p.m. EST.</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<p><strong>First pitch:</strong> 3:07 p.m EST — Sportsnet, Sportsnet 650.</p>
<p><strong>Toronto Blue Jays</strong><strong>:</strong> 65-53, 7.0 GB, &#8211; WCGB, +53 DIFF.</p>
<p><strong>Chicago Cubs:</strong> 60-56, 2.5 GB, &#8211; WCGB, +70 DIFF.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.betano.ca/sport/baseball/north-america/mlb/1662r/"><strong>Odds via Betano:</strong></a></p>
<p>Moneyline: TOR -118; CHI +100.</p>
<p><a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/2023/08/11/betano-bets-of-the-series-will-the-toronto-blue-jays-take-down-the-chicago-cubs/"><strong>Series Bets:</strong></a></p>
<p>Blue Jays to win the series -143<br />
Series correct score Toronto 2-1 +130</p>
<p><strong>Starting pitchers:</strong></p>
<p>TOR: Chris Bassitt RHP – 11-6, 24 GS, 1392 IP. 3.87 ERA, 108 ERA+, 4.57 FIP, 1.246 WHIP, 3.0 BB/9, 8.4 SO/9.</p>
<p>CHI: Justin Steele LHP – <em><strong>13</strong></em>-3, 21 GS, 121.0 IP. 2.68 ERA, <em><strong>171</strong> </em>ERA+, 3.21 FIP, 1.174 WHIP, 2.1 BB/9, 8.4 SO/9.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<div id="all_pitching_standard" class="table_wrapper">
<div id="tfooter_pitching_standard" class="footer no_hide_long">
<div><strong>Bold</strong> season totals indicate player led league. <strong><em>Italic</em></strong> season totals indicate player led all major leagues.</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Lineups: </strong></p>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 50%;">
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Toronto </strong></p>
<ol class="starting-lineups__team starting-lineups__team--away">
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/whit-merrifield-593160" target="" rel="noopener">W Merrifield</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) LF</span></li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/george-springer-543807" target="" rel="noopener">G Springer</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) DH</span></li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/vladimir-guerrero-jr-665489" target="" rel="noopener">V Guerrero Jr.</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) 1B</span></li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/matt-chapman-656305" target="" rel="noopener">M Chapman</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) 3B</span></li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/davis-schneider-676914" target="" rel="noopener">D Schneider</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) 2B</span></li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/alejandro-kirk-672386" target="" rel="noopener">A Kirk</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) C</span></li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/cavan-biggio-624415" target="" rel="noopener">C Biggio</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (L) RF</span></li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/santiago-espinal-669289" target="" rel="noopener">S Espinal</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) SS</span></li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/daulton-varsho-662139" target="" rel="noopener">D Varsho</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (L) CF</span></li>
</ol>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%;">
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Chicago</strong></p>
<div class="starting-lineups__teams starting-lineups__teams--xs starting-lineups__teams--md starting-lineups__teams--lg">
<div class="starting-lineups__buttons starting-lineups__buttons--bottom">
<div class="p-button-group" role="group">
<div class="p-button p-button--regular starting-lineups__button">
<ol class="starting-lineups__team starting-lineups__team--home">
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/mike-tauchman-643565" target="" rel="noopener">M Tauchman</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (L) CF</span></li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/nico-hoerner-663538" target="" rel="noopener">N Hoerner</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) 2B</span></li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-happ-664023" target="" rel="noopener">I Happ</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (S) LF</span></li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/cody-bellinger-641355" target="" rel="noopener">C Bellinger</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (L) 1B</span></li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/dansby-swanson-621020" target="" rel="noopener">D Swanson</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) SS</span></li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/christopher-morel-666624" target="" rel="noopener">C Morel</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) DH</span></li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/jeimer-candelario-600869" target="" rel="noopener">J Candelario</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (S) 3B</span></li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/seiya-suzuki-673548" target="" rel="noopener">S Suzuki</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) RF</span></li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/yan-gomes-543228" target="" rel="noopener">Y Gomes</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) C</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Need to bide the time until first pitch?</h2>
<p>Tune into the latest edition of Blue Jays Nation Radio as the crew talks about the Jays&#8217; latest series against the Cleveland Guardians, and Alek Manoah being sent to Triple-A.</p>
<p><iframe title="Spotify Embed: Blue Jays Nation Radio" style="border-radius: 12px" width="100%" height="152" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/show/00f5Twxj4i9KG1WXzdOiG1?go=1&#038;sp_cid=b3195c716641dffe5ac518f4b2755cdc&#038;utm_source=oembed&#038;utm_medium=desktop&#038;nd=1"></iframe></p>
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://gml-grp.com/C.ashx?btag=a_24038b_2065c_&amp;affid=7966&amp;siteid=24038&amp;adid=2065&amp;c=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GDB PRESENTED BY BETANO</a></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-61491" src="https://publish.bluejaysnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/Betano_ON_Base_727x404-1.png" alt="" width="727" height="404" srcset="https://publish.bluejaysnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/Betano_ON_Base_727x404-1.png 727w, https://publish.bluejaysnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/Betano_ON_Base_727x404-1-300x167.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 727px) 100vw, 727px" /></p>
<hr />
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at</span></i> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/zjlaing"><span style="font-weight: 400;">@zjlaing</span></a><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.</span></i></p>
<hr />

Happy José Bautista weekend.



It's been a long time coming, but the Toronto Blue Jays are finally honouring Joey Bats today welcoming him to the Level of Excellence. A journeyman before the Jays acquired him in 2007, Bautista enjoyed the best years of his career becoming a six-time all-star in the process.

He led all of baseball in both 2010 and 2011 with 54 and 43 homers, and over his 10-year tenure in town, added another 194 to the mark.

Today, the Jays will take on the Chicago Cubs in game two of a three-game set, and boy — could they use Bautista's bat in the lineup. After scoring 25 runs in three games against the Boston Red Sox en route to a crucial series sweep, the last five games — four against Cleveland and one against the Cubbies last night — they've scored just nine runs.

Woof.

Let's see if that can get back on track today.

<hr />

<ul>
 	<li>The Bautista ceremony kicks off on Sportsnet at 2:30 p.m. EST.</li>
</ul>

<hr />

<strong>First pitch:</strong> 3:07 p.m EST — Sportsnet, Sportsnet 650.

<strong>Toronto Blue Jays</strong><strong>:</strong> 65-53, 7.0 GB, - WCGB, +53 DIFF.

<strong>Chicago Cubs:</strong> 60-56, 2.5 GB, - WCGB, +70 DIFF.

<a href="https://www.betano.ca/sport/baseball/north-america/mlb/1662r/"><strong>Odds via Betano:</strong></a>

Moneyline: TOR -118; CHI +100.

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/2023/08/11/betano-bets-of-the-series-will-the-toronto-blue-jays-take-down-the-chicago-cubs/"><strong>Series Bets:</strong></a>

Blue Jays to win the series -143
Series correct score Toronto 2-1 +130

<strong>Starting pitchers:</strong>

TOR: Chris Bassitt RHP – 11-6, 24 GS, 1392 IP. 3.87 ERA, 108 ERA+, 4.57 FIP, 1.246 WHIP, 3.0 BB/9, 8.4 SO/9.

CHI: Justin Steele LHP – <em><strong>13</strong></em>-3, 21 GS, 121.0 IP. 2.68 ERA, <em><strong>171</strong> </em>ERA+, 3.21 FIP, 1.174 WHIP, 2.1 BB/9, 8.4 SO/9.
<ul>
 	<li>
<div id="all_pitching_standard" class="table_wrapper">
<div id="tfooter_pitching_standard" class="footer no_hide_long">
<div><strong>Bold</strong> season totals indicate player led league. <strong><em>Italic</em></strong> season totals indicate player led all major leagues.</div>
</div>
</div></li>
</ul>
<strong>Lineups: </strong>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 50%;">
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Toronto </strong></p>

<ol class="starting-lineups__team starting-lineups__team--away">
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/whit-merrifield-593160" target="" rel="noopener">W Merrifield</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) LF</span></li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/george-springer-543807" target="" rel="noopener">G Springer</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) DH</span></li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/vladimir-guerrero-jr-665489" target="" rel="noopener">V Guerrero Jr.</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) 1B</span></li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/matt-chapman-656305" target="" rel="noopener">M Chapman</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) 3B</span></li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/davis-schneider-676914" target="" rel="noopener">D Schneider</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) 2B</span></li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/alejandro-kirk-672386" target="" rel="noopener">A Kirk</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) C</span></li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/cavan-biggio-624415" target="" rel="noopener">C Biggio</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (L) RF</span></li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/santiago-espinal-669289" target="" rel="noopener">S Espinal</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) SS</span></li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/daulton-varsho-662139" target="" rel="noopener">D Varsho</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (L) CF</span></li>
</ol>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%;">
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Chicago</strong></p>

<div class="starting-lineups__teams starting-lineups__teams--xs starting-lineups__teams--md starting-lineups__teams--lg">
<div class="starting-lineups__buttons starting-lineups__buttons--bottom">
<div class="p-button-group" role="group">
<div class="p-button p-button--regular starting-lineups__button">
<ol class="starting-lineups__team starting-lineups__team--home">
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/mike-tauchman-643565" target="" rel="noopener">M Tauchman</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (L) CF</span></li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/nico-hoerner-663538" target="" rel="noopener">N Hoerner</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) 2B</span></li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-happ-664023" target="" rel="noopener">I Happ</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (S) LF</span></li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/cody-bellinger-641355" target="" rel="noopener">C Bellinger</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (L) 1B</span></li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/dansby-swanson-621020" target="" rel="noopener">D Swanson</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) SS</span></li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/christopher-morel-666624" target="" rel="noopener">C Morel</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) DH</span></li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/jeimer-candelario-600869" target="" rel="noopener">J Candelario</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (S) 3B</span></li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/seiya-suzuki-673548" target="" rel="noopener">S Suzuki</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) RF</span></li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/yan-gomes-543228" target="" rel="noopener">Y Gomes</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) C</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Need to bide the time until first pitch?</h2>
Tune into the latest edition of Blue Jays Nation Radio as the crew talks about the Jays' latest series against the Cleveland Guardians, and Alek Manoah being sent to Triple-A.

https://open.spotify.com/show/00f5Twxj4i9KG1WXzdOiG1?go=1&amp;sp_cid=b3195c716641dffe5ac518f4b2755cdc&amp;utm_source=embed_player_p&amp;utm_medium=desktop&amp;nd=1

<hr />

<h2 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://gml-grp.com/C.ashx?btag=a_24038b_2065c_&amp;affid=7966&amp;siteid=24038&amp;adid=2065&amp;c=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GDB PRESENTED BY BETANO</a></h2>
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-61491" src="https://publish.bluejaysnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/Betano_ON_Base_727x404-1.png" alt="" width="727" height="404" />

<hr />

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at</span></i> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/zjlaing"><span style="font-weight: 400;">@zjlaing</span></a><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.</span></i>

<hr />

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Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel (18) celebrates after scoring the winning run on a double by right fielder Jorge Soler (12, not pictured) as Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Jeff Hoffman (23)walks off the field during the ninth inning at Angel Stadium.

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