The Blue Jays have done their part.

They won their first series out of the All-Star break taking two of three games against the Arizona Diamondbacks over Friday and Saturday.
And now, in a lefty-lefty matchup, Yusei Kikuchi will head to the mound as Toronto looks for the sweep.
The Yusei Kikuchi Revenge Tour has continued chugging along this season with the rotation man&#8217;s ERA being the best of his five-year career in the major leagues. Still an imperfect pitcher, the overall improvement in his game over his disastrous 2022 season have been important.
I mean come on — Kikcuhi is winning 70 percent of his games!
That, coupled with his ERA being a career-best and his ERA+ actualizing back to league average at 99, and you&#8217;ve got the making of a strong fifth man in the rotation.
First pitch: 1:37 p.m. EST
Toronto Blue Jays: 52-41, 7.0 GB, +1.0 WCGB, +42 DIFF.
Arizona Diamondbacks: 52-41, 2.0 GB, +0.5 WCGB, +19 DIFF.
<a href="https://www.betano.ca/sport/baseball/north-america/mlb/1662r/">Odds via Betano:</a>
Moneyline: TOR -161; ARI +137.
Starting pitchers:
TOR: Yusei Kikuchi LHP – 7-3, 18 GS, 93.1 IP. 4.24 ERA, 5.19 FIP, 1.286 WHIP, 9.3 SO/9, 2.6 BB/9.
ARI: Tommy Henry LHP – 5-1, 13 GS, 74.1 IP. 3.75 ERA, 5.26 FIP, 1.318 WHIP, 6.2 SO/9, 3.5 BB/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/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) 1B</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/whit-merrifield-593160" target="" rel="noopener">W Merrifield</a> (R) LF</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> (R) C</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) DH</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) 2B</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%;">
 Arizona
<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/ketel-marte-606466" target="" rel="noopener">K Marte</a> (S) 2B</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/emmanuel-rivera-656896" target="" rel="noopener">E Rivera</a> (R) 3B</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/lourdes-gurriel-jr-666971" target="" rel="noopener">L Gurriel Jr.</a> (R) LF</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/christian-walker-572233" target="" rel="noopener">C Walker</a> (R) 1B</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/evan-longoria-446334" target="" rel="noopener">E Longoria</a> (R) DH</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/corbin-carroll-682998" target="" rel="noopener">C Carroll</a> (L) CF</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/carson-kelly-608348" target="" rel="noopener">C Kelly</a> (R) C</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/nick-ahmed-605113" target="" rel="noopener">N Ahmed</a> (R) SS</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/jake-mccarthy-664983" target="" rel="noopener">J McCarthy</a> (L) RF</li>
</ol>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Need to bide the time until first pitch?</h2>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/2023/07/12/bjn-radio-ep-161-three-up-three-down-from-the-first-half-looking-back-at-predictions-and-more/">Tune into the latest edition of Blue Jays Nation Radio</a> as the crew talks about the Jays&#8217; over the All-Star break.
<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="(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 Blue Jays have done their part.



They won their first series out of the All-Star break taking two of three games against the Arizona Diamondbacks over Friday and Saturday.

And now, in a lefty-lefty matchup, Yusei Kikuchi will head to the mound as Toronto looks for the sweep.

The Yusei Kikuchi Revenge Tour has continued chugging along this season with the rotation man's ERA being the best of his five-year career in the major leagues. Still an imperfect pitcher, the overall improvement in his game over his disastrous 2022 season have been important.

I mean come on — Kikcuhi is winning 70 percent of his games!

That, coupled with his ERA being a career-best and his ERA+ actualizing back to league average at 99, and you've got the making of a strong fifth man in the rotation.

First pitch: 1:37 p.m. EST

Toronto Blue Jays: 52-41, 7.0 GB, +1.0 WCGB, +42 DIFF.

Arizona Diamondbacks: 52-41, 2.0 GB, +0.5 WCGB, +19 DIFF.

<a href="https://www.betano.ca/sport/baseball/north-america/mlb/1662r/">Odds via Betano:</a>

Moneyline: TOR -161; ARI +137.

Starting pitchers:

TOR: Yusei Kikuchi LHP – 7-3, 18 GS, 93.1 IP. 4.24 ERA, 5.19 FIP, 1.286 WHIP, 9.3 SO/9, 2.6 BB/9.

ARI: Tommy Henry LHP – 5-1, 13 GS, 74.1 IP. 3.75 ERA, 5.26 FIP, 1.318 WHIP, 6.2 SO/9, 3.5 BB/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/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) 1B</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/whit-merrifield-593160" target="" rel="noopener">W Merrifield</a> (R) LF</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> (R) C</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) DH</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) 2B</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%;">
 Arizona

<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/ketel-marte-606466" target="" rel="noopener">K Marte</a> (S) 2B</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/emmanuel-rivera-656896" target="" rel="noopener">E Rivera</a> (R) 3B</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/lourdes-gurriel-jr-666971" target="" rel="noopener">L Gurriel Jr.</a> (R) LF</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/christian-walker-572233" target="" rel="noopener">C Walker</a> (R) 1B</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/evan-longoria-446334" target="" rel="noopener">E Longoria</a> (R) DH</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/corbin-carroll-682998" target="" rel="noopener">C Carroll</a> (L) CF</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/carson-kelly-608348" target="" rel="noopener">C Kelly</a> (R) C</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/nick-ahmed-605113" target="" rel="noopener">N Ahmed</a> (R) SS</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/jake-mccarthy-664983" target="" rel="noopener">J McCarthy</a> (L) RF</li>
</ol>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Need to bide the time until first pitch?</h2>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/2023/07/12/bjn-radio-ep-161-three-up-three-down-from-the-first-half-looking-back-at-predictions-and-more/">Tune into the latest edition of Blue Jays Nation Radio</a> as the crew talks about the Jays' over the All-Star break.

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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