GDB 78.0: Blue Jays start a series against the Red Sox for the second time in a week

Photo credit: © Katie Stratman - USA Today
Jun 24, 2024, 18:30 EDTUpdated: Jun 24, 2024, 19:04 EDT
The Toronto Blue Jays are a mess.
Coming into Monday’s game, the Jays are on a six-game losing streak, suffering two three-game sweeps at the hands of the Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Guardians. Last time the Blue Jays had a series opener against the Red Sox, they had a chance to reach .500 with a 35-36 record, but are now 35-42. That’s 15.5 games behind the New York Yankees for the division lead and 6.5 games back for the final Wild Card spot.
To make matters worse, their top position player prospect, Orelvis Martinez, is serving an 80-game suspension for using a banned substance. All in all, it’s really not great in Blue Jays’ land.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa will lead off the Jays, and since moving up in the lineup, he’s hit two home runs in just nine plate appearances. Spencer Horwitz, who is arguably the Blue Jays’ best all-around hitter, bats second and looks to continue his great start to his 2024 season.
Davis Schneider was moved down to eighth in the lineup for Sunday’s game, and he’ll drop down to the seventh spot for this game. Fellow Buffalo Boy Addison Barger bats sixth.
Justin Turner has had a great month, as he’s slashing .300/.440/.417 with a homer in 75 plate appearances, along with a 17.3 BB% and a 14.7 K% since May 28 for a 156 wRC+. Daulton Varsho will once again not be in the lineup.
First Pitch: 7:10 PM ET
TV & Radio: Sportsnet 1, SN 590
Starting Pitchers
Toronto – Chris Bassitt: 15 GS, 6-6 record, 3.52 ERA, 84.1 IP, 81 SO, 34 BB, 7 HR
Boston – Tanner Houck: 15 GS, 7-5 record, 2.14 ERA, 96.2 IP, 94 SO, 17 BB, 2 HR
Lineups
Blue Jays:
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa SS
- Spencer Horwitz 2B
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B
- Justin Turner DH
- George Springer RF
- Addison Barger 3B
- Davis Schneider LF
- Alejandro Kirk C
- Kevin Kiermaier CF
Red Sox:
- Jarren Duran CF
- David Hamilton 2B
- Wilyer Abreu RF
- Rafael Devers 3B
- Tyler O’Neill LF
- Masataka Yoshida DH
- Dominic Smith 1B
- Reese McGuire C
- Ceddanne Rafaela SS
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.
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