The Toronto Blue Jays just need one.

On Monday, the Blue Jays begin a three-game series against the Washington Nationals in the United States’ capital. Things haven’t been going their way since the All-Star break, losing all three series, now four in a row, and going 3-7 in that span. What’s worse is that the offence has been awful, scoring a dismal 22 runs, or 2.2 runs a game. No team is winning many games with run production like that.

The season isn’t just slipping away, it has all but slipped away already. Entering the series opener, the Jays are 14.5 games out of first place in the American League, but are also five and a half games back of a wild card spot as well. A loss in this game will see the Blue Jays hit a season-low 11 games below .500.

For the first time since June 10th, Max Scherzer will make the start for the Blue Jays. It’s also his 42nd birthday and he’ll face a team he helped win a World Series back in 2019. Unfortunately, it’s been a tough season for the future Hall of Famer, carrying a 10.23 ERA and 8.79 FIP over his 22 innings of work.

The Nationals will counter with Andrew Alvarez, but not before Eddy Yean opens the game. This will be his fourth big league appearance, and he’s yet to give up an earned run in five and one-third innings pitched.

While the Blue Jays have never seen him before, both Yohendrick Piñango and Brandon Valenzuela have faced him in Triple-A. Piñango is 1-3, Valenzuela’s lone plate appearance was a walk. Unfortunately, neither player is in the starting lineup.

Like Yean Alvarez has yet to face the Blue Jays in the big leagues. However, three Blue Jays who are currently on the  26-man roster have faced him. Piñango is 1-3 against him with a home run and Davis Schneider is 1-4 with a double and two strikeouts.

The other player to face Alvarez is Daulton Varsho, and the outfielder has not had fun. Varsho is 0-5 against Alvarez with two strikeouts, two ground ball outs, a lineout, and a hit by pitch. Varsho is one of two left-handed batters in the lineup, the other being Nathan Lukes, who is batting second.

Ernie Clement leads off again, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. bats third, and George Springer bats fourth after being hot the since the All-Star break. Alejandro Kirk bats fifth, followed by Kazuma Okamoto. Rounding out the bottom of the lineup is Luis Urías and Myles Straw, who bat eighth and ninth respectively.

Let’s set up Monday evening’s series opener!

Toronto Blue Jays – Max Scherzer: 1-4 record, 10.23 ERA, 22 IP, 14 SO, 11 BB

Washington Nationals – Eddy Yean: 0-0 record, 0.00 ERA, 5.1 IP, 4 SO, 2 BB