It&#8217;s time for the annual two-game set against the Philadelphia Phillies and boy — are we in for a treat.

This set is going to feature some incredible pitching kicking off tonight with Yusei Kikuchi squaring off against Zack Wheeler. On Wednesday, it&#8217;s going to be Kevin Gausman across from Aaron Nola.
The Jays, meanwhile, enter this set in what might be one of the most critical junctures of the season as the Seattle Mariners are nipping at their heels in the wild card race. Seattle got as close as half a game back of Toronto over the weekend, but they dropped two of three games against Baltimore and fell 7-6 to the Kansas City Royals Monday night.
This, mind you, comes after Seattle went on an eight-game winning streak at the start of the month. The M&#8217;s have three more games against KC before road sets against the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox.
Two wins in the middle of the week for the Jays here could be key.
<hr />
First pitch: 7:07 p.m EST — Sportsnet, Sportsnet 650.
Toronto Blue Jays: 66-54, 8.0 GB, &#8211; WCGB, +59 DIFF.
Philadelphia Phillies: 61-56, 2.5 GB, &#8211; WCGB, +71 DIFF.
<a href="https://www.betano.ca/sport/baseball/north-america/mlb/1662r/">Odds via Betano:</a>
Moneyline: TOR +102; PHI -110.
Starting pitchers:
TOR: Yusei Kikuchi LHP – 9-4, 23 GS, 122.1 IP. 3.53 ERA, 118 ERA+, 4.52 FIP, 1.234 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9, 9.2 SO/9.
PHI: Zack Wheeler RHP – 9-5, 23 GS, 137.0 IP. 3.74 ERA, 115 ERA+, 3.06 FIP, 1.109 WHIP, 1.6 BB/9, 10.2 SO/9.
Lineups: 
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 50%;">
Toronto 
<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> (R) LF</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/brandon-belt-474832" target="" rel="noopener">B Belt</a> (L) DH</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> (R) 1B</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> (R) RF</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> (L) 2B</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> (R) C</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> (L) CF</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> (R) 3B</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/paul-dejong-657557" target="" rel="noopener">P DeJong</a> (R) SS</li>
</ol>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%;">
Phillies
<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/kyle-schwarber-656941" target="" rel="noopener">K Schwarber</a> (L) LF</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/alec-bohm-664761" target="" rel="noopener">A Bohm</a> (R) 1B</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/bryce-harper-547180" target="" rel="noopener">B Harper</a> (L) DH</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/nick-castellanos-592206" target="" rel="noopener">N Castellanos</a> (R) RF</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/bryson-stott-681082" target="" rel="noopener">B Stott</a> (L) 2B</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/trea-turner-607208" target="" rel="noopener">T Turner</a> (R) SS</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/j-t-realmuto-592663" target="" rel="noopener">J Realmuto</a> (R) C</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/edmundo-sosa-624641" target="" rel="noopener">E Sosa</a> (R) 3B</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/johan-rojas-679032" target="" rel="noopener">J Rojas</a> (R) CF</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&#8217; latest series against the Chicago Cubs.
<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>
<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 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="(max-width: 727px) 100vw, 727px" />
<hr />
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/zjlaing">@zjlaing</a>, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.
<hr />

It's time for the annual two-game set against the Philadelphia Phillies and boy — are we in for a treat.



This set is going to feature some incredible pitching kicking off tonight with Yusei Kikuchi squaring off against Zack Wheeler. On Wednesday, it's going to be Kevin Gausman across from Aaron Nola.

The Jays, meanwhile, enter this set in what might be one of the most critical junctures of the season as the Seattle Mariners are nipping at their heels in the wild card race. Seattle got as close as half a game back of Toronto over the weekend, but they dropped two of three games against Baltimore and fell 7-6 to the Kansas City Royals Monday night.

This, mind you, comes after Seattle went on an eight-game winning streak at the start of the month. The M's have three more games against KC before road sets against the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox.

Two wins in the middle of the week for the Jays here could be key.

<hr />

First pitch: 7:07 p.m EST — Sportsnet, Sportsnet 650.

Toronto Blue Jays: 66-54, 8.0 GB, - WCGB, +59 DIFF.

Philadelphia Phillies: 61-56, 2.5 GB, - WCGB, +71 DIFF.

<a href="https://www.betano.ca/sport/baseball/north-america/mlb/1662r/">Odds via Betano:</a>

Moneyline: TOR +102; PHI -110.

Starting pitchers:

TOR: Yusei Kikuchi LHP – 9-4, 23 GS, 122.1 IP. 3.53 ERA, 118 ERA+, 4.52 FIP, 1.234 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9, 9.2 SO/9.

PHI: Zack Wheeler RHP – 9-5, 23 GS, 137.0 IP. 3.74 ERA, 115 ERA+, 3.06 FIP, 1.109 WHIP, 1.6 BB/9, 10.2 SO/9.

Lineups: 
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 50%;">
Toronto 

<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> (R) LF</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/brandon-belt-474832" target="" rel="noopener">B Belt</a> (L) DH</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> (R) 1B</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> (R) RF</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> (L) 2B</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> (R) C</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> (L) CF</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> (R) 3B</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/paul-dejong-657557" target="" rel="noopener">P DeJong</a> (R) SS</li>
</ol>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%;">
Phillies

<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/kyle-schwarber-656941" target="" rel="noopener">K Schwarber</a> (L) LF</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/alec-bohm-664761" target="" rel="noopener">A Bohm</a> (R) 1B</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/bryce-harper-547180" target="" rel="noopener">B Harper</a> (L) DH</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/nick-castellanos-592206" target="" rel="noopener">N Castellanos</a> (R) RF</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/bryson-stott-681082" target="" rel="noopener">B Stott</a> (L) 2B</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/trea-turner-607208" target="" rel="noopener">T Turner</a> (R) SS</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/j-t-realmuto-592663" target="" rel="noopener">J Realmuto</a> (R) C</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/edmundo-sosa-624641" target="" rel="noopener">E Sosa</a> (R) 3B</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/johan-rojas-679032" target="" rel="noopener">J Rojas</a> (R) CF</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 Chicago Cubs.

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 />

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/zjlaing">@zjlaing</a>, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.

<hr />

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Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) celebrates after hitting a double in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium

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