The Jays are on the road.

They&#8217;re down in Cincinnati to take on the Reds this weekend for a three-game set. With Monday and Thursday off bookending a two-game series split with the Philadelphia Phillies, the Jays must be feeling a bit refreshed.
And it could come at a critical time, too.
The Jays enter this series half a game up on the Seattle Mariners in the wild card race, and three back of the Houston Astros. This next week — one that will see the Jays also face the Baltimore Orioles — could play a factor in determining their fate when playoff matchups are finalized.
Simply put: Toronto needs to gain some ground here. It will be a tough series this weekend against a Reds club teeming with young talent
<hr />
First pitch: 4:40 p.m EST — Apple TV+, Sportsnet 650.
Toronto Blue Jays: 67-55, 7.5 GB, &#8211; WCGB, +55 DIFF.
Cincinnati Reds: 63-59, 2.0 GB, &#8211; WCGB, -20 DIFF.
<a href="https://www.betano.ca/sport/baseball/north-america/mlb/1662r/">Odds via Betano:</a>
Moneyline: TOR +102; CIN -110.
Starting pitchers:
TOR: Jose Berrios RHP – 9-8, 24 GS, 140.1 IP. 3.53 ERA, 119 ERA+, 4.00 FIP, 1.219 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9, 8.5 SO/9.
CIN: Brett Kennedy RHP – 1-0, 1 GS, 7.0 IP. 5.14 ERA, 94 ERA+, 2.97 FIP, 1.143 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9, 5.1 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) 2B</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/cavan-biggio-624415" target="" rel="noopener">C Biggio</a> (L) RF</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> (R) 3B</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) LF</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) SS</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/kevin-kiermaier-595281" target="" rel="noopener">K Kiermaier</a> (L) CF</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/tj-friedl-670770" target="" rel="noopener">T Friedl</a> (L) CF</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/matt-mclain-680574" target="" rel="noopener">M McLain</a> (R) 2B</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/elly-de-la-cruz-682829" target="" rel="noopener">E De La Cruz</a> (S) SS</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/spencer-steer-668715" target="" rel="noopener">S Steer</a> (R) 3B</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/joey-votto-458015" target="" rel="noopener">J Votto</a> (L) 1B</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/christian-encarnacion-strand-687952" target="" rel="noopener">C Encarnacion-Strand</a> (R) DH</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/tyler-stephenson-663886" target="" rel="noopener">T Stephenson</a> (R) C</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/will-benson-666181" target="" rel="noopener">W Benson</a> (L) RF</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/stuart-fairchild-656413" target="" rel="noopener">S Fairchild</a> (R) LF</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 Philadelphia Phillies.
<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="auto, (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 />

The Jays are on the road.



They're down in Cincinnati to take on the Reds this weekend for a three-game set. With Monday and Thursday off bookending a two-game series split with the Philadelphia Phillies, the Jays must be feeling a bit refreshed.

And it could come at a critical time, too.

The Jays enter this series half a game up on the Seattle Mariners in the wild card race, and three back of the Houston Astros. This next week — one that will see the Jays also face the Baltimore Orioles — could play a factor in determining their fate when playoff matchups are finalized.

Simply put: Toronto needs to gain some ground here. It will be a tough series this weekend against a Reds club teeming with young talent

<hr />

First pitch: 4:40 p.m EST — Apple TV+, Sportsnet 650.

Toronto Blue Jays: 67-55, 7.5 GB, - WCGB, +55 DIFF.

Cincinnati Reds: 63-59, 2.0 GB, - WCGB, -20 DIFF.

<a href="https://www.betano.ca/sport/baseball/north-america/mlb/1662r/">Odds via Betano:</a>

Moneyline: TOR +102; CIN -110.

Starting pitchers:

TOR: Jose Berrios RHP – 9-8, 24 GS, 140.1 IP. 3.53 ERA, 119 ERA+, 4.00 FIP, 1.219 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9, 8.5 SO/9.

CIN: Brett Kennedy RHP – 1-0, 1 GS, 7.0 IP. 5.14 ERA, 94 ERA+, 2.97 FIP, 1.143 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9, 5.1 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) 2B</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/cavan-biggio-624415" target="" rel="noopener">C Biggio</a> (L) RF</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> (R) 3B</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) LF</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) SS</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/kevin-kiermaier-595281" target="" rel="noopener">K Kiermaier</a> (L) CF</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/tj-friedl-670770" target="" rel="noopener">T Friedl</a> (L) CF</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/matt-mclain-680574" target="" rel="noopener">M McLain</a> (R) 2B</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/elly-de-la-cruz-682829" target="" rel="noopener">E De La Cruz</a> (S) SS</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/spencer-steer-668715" target="" rel="noopener">S Steer</a> (R) 3B</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/joey-votto-458015" target="" rel="noopener">J Votto</a> (L) 1B</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/christian-encarnacion-strand-687952" target="" rel="noopener">C Encarnacion-Strand</a> (R) DH</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/tyler-stephenson-663886" target="" rel="noopener">T Stephenson</a> (R) C</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/will-benson-666181" target="" rel="noopener">W Benson</a> (L) RF</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/stuart-fairchild-656413" target="" rel="noopener">S Fairchild</a> (R) LF</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 Philadelphia Phillies.

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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