GDB 94.0: Toronto Blue Jays head to the desert ahead of All-Star break

Photo credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
By Zach Laing
Jul 12, 2024, 17:14 EDT
They let the Toronto Blue Jays get hot.
Fresh off two series in which the Jays lost the first game of the series, to win the final two, Toronto is taking their talents to Arizona in hopes of securing another series win over the Diamondbacks. The Blue Jays struggled in Game 1 against each of the Seattle Mariners and San Francisco Giants over the last week, but came back with big performances in Games 2 and 3.
It marks the first time the Jays have played in Chase Field since 2016 when they swept a two-game series with 5-1 and 10-4 wins. In fact, the Blue Jays have loved to play in Arizona since the Diamondbacks entered the Major Leagues in 1998, going 7-4 in 11 games there.
Yariel Rodriguez will take the mound tonight for Toronto fresh off two solid outings in which he allowed one earned run across 12 and two third innings against the Houston Astros and Mariners. Not only that, but he did some excellent work limiting baserunners, allowing three hits for a .077 batting average, while walking just four of the 43 batters he faced, while fanning 12. Arizona, meanwhile, responds with Ryne Nelson tonight, who has struggled this season giving up a 5.08 ERA, but is coming off starts against the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Padres in which he gave up one earned run to each team.
Saturday will see the Jays send Jose Berrios to the mound opposite Yilber Diaz, and the rubber match will have Yusei Kikuchi squaring up with Zac Gallen.
First pitch: 9:40 p.m. EST.
TV & Radio: Sportsnet, SN590.
Starting pitchers:
| Name | Team | GS | W | L | IP | ERA | xERA | ERA- | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yariel Rodríguez | TOR | 8 | 1 | 3 | 30.1 | 3.56 | 4.15 | 90 | 4.22 | 1.32 | 8.60 | 4.75 |
Ryne Nelson | ARI | 14 | 6 | 6 | 79.2 | 5.08 | 4.82 | 124 | 4.31 | 1.48 | 6.10 | 2.26 |
Lineups:
BLUE JAYS:
- TBA
DIAMONDBACKS:
- TBA
Need to bide the time until first pitch?
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Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.
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