Somehow, the Toronto Blue Jays have managed to drop this series to the Minnesota Twins.

Losing to a team in the AL Central is never an ideal scenario, but the truth of the matter is that the Jays did cook the Twins a month ago in Minnesota, so what goes around comes around, I guess.
Nonetheless, Jays ace Kevin Gausman takes the mound today looking to continue the dominant run that should have him <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/2023/06/06/toronto-blue-jays-pitcher-kevin-gausman-isnt-a-cy-young-candidate-mlb-poll-says-so-he-dominated-the-houston-astros/">firmly entrenched in the Cy Young conversation</a>.
The game got away from Toronto on Saturday late as Adam Cimber imploded, so the hope here today is that Gausman can eat up seven or eight innings and the bats can come alive.
After batting cleanup yesterday, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. slides back into his usual spot in the three slot, as Matt Chapman enters the equation to bat cleanup.
First pitch: 1:37 p.m. EST
Weather: 20C.
Toronto Blue Jays: 36-30, 10.5 GB, 1.5 WCGB, +24 DIFF.
Minnesota Twins: 33-32, &#8211; GB, &#8211; WCGB, +41 DIFF.
<a href="https://www.betano.ca/sport/baseball/north-america/mlb/1662/">Odds via Betano:</a>
Moneyline: TOR -200; MIN +170.
Starting pitchers:
TOR: Kevin Gausman RHP — 5-3, 13 GS, 82.0 IP. 2.63 ERA, 2.28 FIP, 1.073 WHIP, 12.4 K/9, 1.6 bWAR.
MIN: Louie Varland RHP — 3-2, 8 GS, 47.0 IP. 4.40 ERA, 5.27 FIP, 1.213 WHIP, 8.4 K/9, 0.6 bWAR.
Lineups: 
Toronto 
<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> (R) RF</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/bo-bichette-666182" target="" rel="noopener">B Bichette</a> (R) SS</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) DH</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/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/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/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/nathan-lukes-664770" target="" rel="noopener">N Lukes</a> (L) LF</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) 1B</li>
</ol>
Minnesota
<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/edouard-julien-666397" target="" rel="noopener">E Julien</a> (L) 2B</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/donovan-solano-456781" target="" rel="noopener">D Solano</a> (R) DH</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/alex-kirilloff-666135" target="" rel="noopener">A Kirilloff</a> (L) 1B</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/carlos-correa-621043" target="" rel="noopener">C Correa</a> (R) SS</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/trevor-larnach-663616" target="" rel="noopener">T Larnach</a> (L) LF</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/royce-lewis-668904" target="" rel="noopener">R Lewis</a> (R) 3B</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/max-kepler-596146" target="" rel="noopener">M Kepler</a> (L) RF</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/christian-vazquez-543877" target="" rel="noopener">C Vázquez</a> (R) C</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/michael-a-taylor-572191" target="" rel="noopener">M Taylor</a> (R) CF</li>
</ol>
<h2>Need to bide the time until first pitch?</h2>
<a href="https://publish.bluejaysnation.com/2023/06/09/bjn-radio-ep-151-alek-manoah-heads-to-dunedin-blue-jays-finally-cut-ties-with-anthony-bass-and-more/">Tune into the latest edition of Blue Jays Nation Radio</a> as the crew talks about the Jays&#8217; latest series against the Houston Astros.
<iframe title="Spotify Embed: Alek Manoah heads to Dunedin, Blue Jays finally cut ties with Anthony Bass, and more" 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/episode/5bNH661XPYkQnkBYfGLTKB?si=0jUIh9chQouZjWocRGsAHw&#038;utm_source=oembed"></iframe>
<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@thenationnetwork.com.
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Somehow, the Toronto Blue Jays have managed to drop this series to the Minnesota Twins.



Losing to a team in the AL Central is never an ideal scenario, but the truth of the matter is that the Jays did cook the Twins a month ago in Minnesota, so what goes around comes around, I guess.

Nonetheless, Jays ace Kevin Gausman takes the mound today looking to continue the dominant run that should have him <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/2023/06/06/toronto-blue-jays-pitcher-kevin-gausman-isnt-a-cy-young-candidate-mlb-poll-says-so-he-dominated-the-houston-astros/">firmly entrenched in the Cy Young conversation</a>.

The game got away from Toronto on Saturday late as Adam Cimber imploded, so the hope here today is that Gausman can eat up seven or eight innings and the bats can come alive.

After batting cleanup yesterday, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. slides back into his usual spot in the three slot, as Matt Chapman enters the equation to bat cleanup.

First pitch: 1:37 p.m. EST

Weather: 20C.

Toronto Blue Jays: 36-30, 10.5 GB, 1.5 WCGB, +24 DIFF.

Minnesota Twins: 33-32, - GB, - WCGB, +41 DIFF.

<a href="https://www.betano.ca/sport/baseball/north-america/mlb/1662/">Odds via Betano:</a>

Moneyline: TOR -200; MIN +170.

Starting pitchers:

TOR: Kevin Gausman RHP — 5-3, 13 GS, 82.0 IP. 2.63 ERA, 2.28 FIP, 1.073 WHIP, 12.4 K/9, 1.6 bWAR.

MIN: Louie Varland RHP — 3-2, 8 GS, 47.0 IP. 4.40 ERA, 5.27 FIP, 1.213 WHIP, 8.4 K/9, 0.6 bWAR.

Lineups: 

Toronto 
<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> (R) RF</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/bo-bichette-666182" target="" rel="noopener">B Bichette</a> (R) SS</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) DH</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/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/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/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/nathan-lukes-664770" target="" rel="noopener">N Lukes</a> (L) LF</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) 1B</li>
</ol>
Minnesota
<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/edouard-julien-666397" target="" rel="noopener">E Julien</a> (L) 2B</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/donovan-solano-456781" target="" rel="noopener">D Solano</a> (R) DH</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/alex-kirilloff-666135" target="" rel="noopener">A Kirilloff</a> (L) 1B</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/carlos-correa-621043" target="" rel="noopener">C Correa</a> (R) SS</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/trevor-larnach-663616" target="" rel="noopener">T Larnach</a> (L) LF</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/royce-lewis-668904" target="" rel="noopener">R Lewis</a> (R) 3B</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/max-kepler-596146" target="" rel="noopener">M Kepler</a> (L) RF</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/christian-vazquez-543877" target="" rel="noopener">C Vázquez</a> (R) C</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/michael-a-taylor-572191" target="" rel="noopener">M Taylor</a> (R) CF</li>
</ol>
<h2>Need to bide the time until first pitch?</h2>
<a href="https://publish.bluejaysnation.com/2023/06/09/bjn-radio-ep-151-alek-manoah-heads-to-dunedin-blue-jays-finally-cut-ties-with-anthony-bass-and-more/">Tune into the latest edition of Blue Jays Nation Radio</a> as the crew talks about the Jays' latest series against the Houston Astros.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5bNH661XPYkQnkBYfGLTKB?si=0jUIh9chQouZjWocRGsAHw

<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@thenationnetwork.com.

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GDB 67.0: Kevin Gausman looks to steal the Toronto Blue Jays a win

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