The Toronto Blue Jays welcome the Boston Red Sox at the Rogers Centre for the first time this season, as the two sides have yet to face each other so far in the 2024 campaign.

The Red Sox currently sit third in the AL East and just above the Blue Jays with their 37-35 record. The Jays have a game up on Boston and a clean sweep would see Toronto jump past their division rival and also above .500, as the club is entering the series with a 35-36 record. Both clubs are 6-4 in their past 10 games as well.

The Jays are slated to face a right-hander and Canadian Nick Pivetta on the mound and are playing the analytical game, sitting Spencer Horwitz and Addison Barger tonight. Pivetta owns impressive split stats when facing left-handed batters this season – .192/.276/.372 with a .648 OPS – and has fared worse against right-handed batters, authoring a .715 OPS while giving up five doubles and four earned runs against RHBs. While left-handers have also collected four home runs off the B.C. product, manager John Schneider and the Jays coaching staff went with more righty bats in the lineup.

This will also be the third consecutive game where Bo Bichette is not in the lineup. The shortstop hasn’t suited up since Friday as he deals with right calf soreness. The Jays will likely also be without Yimi Garcia, who left last night’s game with elbow soreness but is reportedly dealing with an ulnar nerve issue that may require an IL stint.

On the mound, the Blue Jays will be sending Yusei Kikuchi – who is celebrating his 33rd birthday today. The left-hander had a few rocky outings to end the month of May and in early June but the Japanese product has bounced back well over his last two starts, allowing just seven hits, one earned run and striking out 11 across 11 innings.

To enter the win column, the Jays will also have to conquer some demons, as the Jays have lost the opening game in their last four series dating back to June 3rd against Baltimore. Winning the series against Boston will put the Jays at .500 while a sweep would put them just above the middle mark before the team heads off to Cleveland for a weekend set.

First Pitch: 7:07 pm EST

TV & Radio: Sportsnet, SN590