This past week is the best that the Toronto Blue Jays have played all season.

In the series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Blue Jays scored eight runs in the first inning. They played small ball the following day, then overcame two leads in the following two games. The Blue Jays were unable to overcome the Cleveland Guardians’ lead on Friday, but managed to hit two home runs and score six runs. Then, they won the final two games of the weekend series thanks to strong pitching and timely hits.

Now for the first time all season, the Blue Jays have a series against a fellow American League East team, the Boston Red Sox. Just two days ago, the Red Sox fired about half their coaching staff following a 17-1 victory, then proceeded to win their series finale on Sunday. That said, the division-worst Red Sox have struggled in all facets of the game this season, both in terms of run generation and pitching.

Their big off-season free agent signing, Ranger Suárez, makes the start on Monday evening. The left-handed pitcher isn’t off to a great start, authoring a 4 ERA and 4.05 FIP over his first five starts. He’s also generating just a 41.3 ground ball percentage, the worst in his career. Of his batted ball profile, 30% of balls in play have been a line drive.

Suárez began his career with the Philadelphia Phillies back in 2018, only appearing in two games against the Blue Jays. Back in 2021, he made a relief appearance against them and threw a scoreless two and one-third innings while also hitting two batters. Last season, Suárez threw seven scoreless innings, allowing five hits and striking out six.

The Blue Jays have a darn good pitcher on the mound, as Dylan Cease will make his sixth start for the team. Through five games, he has a 2.10 ERA and 1.45 FIP with a 39.6 K%. Unfortunately, Cease has struggled with command (12.6%), which hasn’t allowed him to go deep into games.

Last time out, Cease threw just five innings, needing 116 pitches. That said, he also struck out 12 batters, one of his better starts this season. Ideally, he pitches into the seventh in this game because of the impending bullpen day on Wednesday.

With a lefty on the mound, the Blue Jays turn to their right-handed heavy lineup. Leading off is Myles Straw, followed by doubles machine Ernie Clement and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Kazuma Okamoto has three home runs in this 5-2 stretch, and he’ll bat cleanup in this game. Lenyn Sosa hasn’t been great since the Jays traded for him, but he’ll play second base and bat fifth. DH’ing for the Blue Jays is Eloy Jiménez, who bats sixth.

Jesús Sánchez is the lone left-handed batter in the lineup, at least to start. It’s hard to deny him a start despite his career struggles against left-handed pitching, as Sánchez drove in three runs on Sunday and hit two home runs in the most recent series. Tyler Heineman, a switch-hitter, bats ninth.

Let’s set up Monday’s series opener!

Toronto Blue Jays – Dylan Cease: 1-0 record, 2.10 ERA, 25.2 IP, 44 SO, 14 BB

Boston Red Sox – Ranger Suárez: 1-2 record, 4.00 ERA, 27 IP, 19 SO, 8 BB