<p>There&#8217;s no such thing as easy wins.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The Jays learned that the hard way this weekend dropping two of three games against the Cleveland Guardians. And now, the Jays will welcome the surging Washington Nationals to town.</p>
<p>They&#8217;ve been on a run since the all-star break going 25-16, but their success predates that, too, to late June when <a href="https://theathletic.com/4636283/2023/06/25/padres-new-low-series-loss-nationals/">Xander Bogaerts said</a> &#8220;C&#8217;mon man. We&#8217;re playing the Nationals.&#8221;</p>
<p>Since then, they&#8217;ve gone 31-23 with the ninth-most wins in the major leagues. Not bad at all.</p>
<p>Even with the Jays&#8217; top three pitchers in the rotation taking the mound over the next three night, they can&#8217;t take the Nationals lightly.</p>
<hr />
<p><strong>First pitch:</strong> 7:07 p.m EST — Sportsnet, Sportsnet 650.</p>
<p><strong>Toronto Blue Jays</strong><strong>:</strong> 71-60, 10.5 GB, 2.5 WCGB, +55 DIFF.</p>
<p><strong>Washington Nationals:</strong> 61-70, 24.0 GB, 8.0 WCGB, -93 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 -250; WAS +210.</p>
<p>*Odds at the time of publishing. Odds subject to change.</p>
<p><strong>Starting pitchers:</strong></p>
<p>TOR: Kevin Gausman RHP – 9-8, 25 GS, 150.1 IP. 3.23 ERA, 132 ERA+, 2.86 FIP, 1.157 WHIP, 2.3 BB/9, <strong>11.7 SO/9.</strong></p>
<p>WAS: Josiah Gray RHP – 7-10, 25 GS, 135.2 IP. 3.85 ERA, 111 ERA+, 4.91 FIP, 1.445 WHIP, 4.4 BB/9, 7.8 SO/9.</p>
<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>
<div class="adblock"></div>
<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>
<div class="starting-lineups__teams starting-lineups__teams--xs starting-lineups__teams--md starting-lineups__teams--lg">
<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/george-springer-543807" target="" rel="noopener">G Springer</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/brandon-belt-474832" target="" rel="noopener">B Belt</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (L) 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/davis-schneider-676914" target="" rel="noopener">D Schneider</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/whit-merrifield-593160" target="" rel="noopener">W Merrifield</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/daulton-varsho-662139" target="" rel="noopener">D Varsho</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (L) LF</span></li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/danny-jansen-643376" target="" rel="noopener">D Jansen</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/ernie-clement-676391" target="" rel="noopener">E Clement</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/kevin-kiermaier-595281" target="" rel="noopener">K Kiermaier</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (L) CF</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<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"></div>
</div>
</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%">
<p style="text-align: center"><strong>Washington</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/cj-abrams-682928" target="" rel="noopener">C Abrams</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (L) SS</span></li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/lane-thomas-657041" target="" rel="noopener">L Thomas</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/joey-meneses-608841" target="" rel="noopener">J Meneses</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/keibert-ruiz-660688" target="" rel="noopener">K Ruiz</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (S) C</span></li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/dominic-smith-642086" target="" rel="noopener">Do Smith</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/ildemaro-vargas-545121" target="" rel="noopener">I Vargas</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/jake-alu-666906" target="" rel="noopener">J Alu</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (L) 2B</span></li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/alex-call-669743" target="" rel="noopener">A Call</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/jacob-young-696285" target="" rel="noopener">J Young</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) CF</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.</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 />
<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 />
<h2 class="mb-5 text-2xl font-bold" style="text-align: center"><a class="text-accent" 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 nofollow">ARTICLE 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>

There's no such thing as easy wins.



The Jays learned that the hard way this weekend dropping two of three games against the Cleveland Guardians. And now, the Jays will welcome the surging Washington Nationals to town.

They've been on a run since the all-star break going 25-16, but their success predates that, too, to late June when <a href="https://theathletic.com/4636283/2023/06/25/padres-new-low-series-loss-nationals/">Xander Bogaerts said</a> "C'mon man. We're playing the Nationals."

Since then, they've gone 31-23 with the ninth-most wins in the major leagues. Not bad at all.

Even with the Jays' top three pitchers in the rotation taking the mound over the next three night, they can't take the Nationals lightly.

<hr />

<strong>First pitch:</strong> 7:07 p.m EST — Sportsnet, Sportsnet 650.

<strong>Toronto Blue Jays</strong><strong>:</strong> 71-60, 10.5 GB, 2.5 WCGB, +55 DIFF.

<strong>Washington Nationals:</strong> 61-70, 24.0 GB, 8.0 WCGB, -93 DIFF.

<a href="https://www.betano.ca/sport/baseball/north-america/mlb/1662r/"><strong>Odds via Betano:</strong></a>

Moneyline: TOR -250; WAS +210.

*Odds at the time of publishing. Odds subject to change.

<strong>Starting pitchers:</strong>

TOR: Kevin Gausman RHP – 9-8, 25 GS, 150.1 IP. 3.23 ERA, 132 ERA+, 2.86 FIP, 1.157 WHIP, 2.3 BB/9, <strong>11.7 SO/9.</strong>

WAS: Josiah Gray RHP – 7-10, 25 GS, 135.2 IP. 3.85 ERA, 111 ERA+, 4.91 FIP, 1.445 WHIP, 4.4 BB/9, 7.8 SO/9.
<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>
<div class="adblock"></div>
<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>

<div class="starting-lineups__teams starting-lineups__teams--xs starting-lineups__teams--md starting-lineups__teams--lg">
<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/george-springer-543807" target="" rel="noopener">G Springer</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/brandon-belt-474832" target="" rel="noopener">B Belt</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (L) 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/davis-schneider-676914" target="" rel="noopener">D Schneider</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/whit-merrifield-593160" target="" rel="noopener">W Merrifield</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/daulton-varsho-662139" target="" rel="noopener">D Varsho</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (L) LF</span></li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/danny-jansen-643376" target="" rel="noopener">D Jansen</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/ernie-clement-676391" target="" rel="noopener">E Clement</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/kevin-kiermaier-595281" target="" rel="noopener">K Kiermaier</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (L) CF</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<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"></div>
</div>
</div></td>
<td style="width: 50%">
<p style="text-align: center"><strong>Washington</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/cj-abrams-682928" target="" rel="noopener">C Abrams</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (L) SS</span></li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/lane-thomas-657041" target="" rel="noopener">L Thomas</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/joey-meneses-608841" target="" rel="noopener">J Meneses</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/keibert-ruiz-660688" target="" rel="noopener">K Ruiz</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (S) C</span></li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/dominic-smith-642086" target="" rel="noopener">Do Smith</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/ildemaro-vargas-545121" target="" rel="noopener">I Vargas</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/jake-alu-666906" target="" rel="noopener">J Alu</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (L) 2B</span></li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/alex-call-669743" target="" rel="noopener">A Call</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/jacob-young-696285" target="" rel="noopener">J Young</a><span class="starting-lineups__player--position"> (R) CF</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.

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 />

<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 />

<h2 class="mb-5 text-2xl font-bold" style="text-align: center"><a class="text-accent" 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 nofollow">ARTICLE 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" />

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