It’s a good ol’ bullpen day for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Monday’s game didn’t go so great for the Blue Jays. Trey Yesavage was having a great start until two poor defensively plays in the top of the six by Yohendrick Piñango tacked on three additional earned runs. In the end, he went six and two-thirds innings with five earned runs given up.

But it’s not like his offence gave him and help. The Blue Jays went a dismal 1-9 with runners in scoring position, stranding 10 runners on base. In their past two games, they are just 2-21 with runners in scoring position, stranding 20 base runners. Their in ability for the big hit on a consistent basis has really hampered their season.

There were few positives to take away from Monday’s game. Nathan Lukes returned went 3-4 with three singles and a hit by pitch, while Ernie Clement hit his fourth home run of the season. Yesavage also pitched six and two-thirds innings, meaning that the Jays used just four relievers, with Mason Fluharty and Adam Macko pitching 10 or fewer innings.

That’s good news because Tuesday’s game will be a bullpen day. Braydon Fisher is expected to start, with Spencer Miles eating the bulk of the innings at some point during the game. Over his last three games, all bullpen days, Miles hasn’t given up a run over 11 innings of work, with 13 strikeouts, three walks, and just six hits allowed. What an acquisition he’s been.

On the other side, Sandy Alcántara starts for the Marlins. The 30-year-old enters this game with a 4 ERA and 3.72 FIP in 69.2 innings pitched this season. It’s not quite as good as his dominant 2022 when he won the National League Cy Young, but this is pacing to be Alcántara’s best season since that season.

The hard-throwing right-handed pitcher has made three starts against the Blue Jays, where he has a 4.29 ERA in 21 innings pitched. His most recent start, in 2023, saw him go seven innings, but allowing five earned runs. He pitched against the Jays twice in June 2021, with varying level of success. On June 1st, 2021, he allowed four earned runs over six innings of work.

Then 21 days later, he gave up one earned run over eight innings of work. In all three games Alcántara has pitched against the Blue Jays, it was the Blue Jays finding a way to win.

The Blue Jay with the most success against Alcántara is Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who has hit a home run and is batting .455. Unfortunately, he is once again not in the starting lineup after getting hit in the elbow with a sinker in the fifth inning of Sunday’s game.

George Springer is the only other Blue Jay who has more than five at-bats against Alcántara, and he’s batting .286 with a .572 OPS. He’ll bat lead-off, and is followed by two lefties, Daulton Varsho and Jesús Sánchez. Kazuma Okamoto bats cleanup, while Piñango is back in the lineup and batting fifth.

Clement, who hit a home run on Monday, bats sixth, and is followed by lefty Andrés Giménez. Brandon Valenzuela gets catching duties and is batting eighth. With Guerrero Jr. out of the lineup, Sosa fills in at first base after drawing his first walk of the season on Monday.

Let’s set up Tuesday’s game!

Toronto Blue Jays – Braydon Fisher: 2-1 record, 2.73 ERA, 29.2 IP, 31 SO, 12 BB

Miami Marlins – Sandy Alcántara: 3-3 record, 4.00 ERA, 69.2 IP, 48 SO, 20 BB