August 13 Gameday: Blue Jays look to complete second sweep of Red Sox in 2026

Photo credit: © Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
Aug 13, 2026, 14:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 13, 2026, 15:28 EDT
The Toronto Blue Jays are hot.
Since falling to the Boston Red Sox in their series finale on July 26th, the Jays are 11-5 in their last 16, going from a 48-58 record to a 59-63 record. They’re also in the thick of the wild card race, sitting just a game and a half back of the final wild card spot.
One thing they haven’t done in this hot streak, or really all season, is sweep teams. While they’ve won their last five series, they haven’t completed a sweep since mid-June, ironically against the Red Sox. That’s one of two sweeps they’ve completed this season, doing so in their series opener back in March.
Starting for the Blue Jays is Max Scherzer. His last two starts have seen him pitching into at least the sixth inning. Against the St. Louis Cardinals on August 2nd, he went six innings of one run ball. Last time out, he gave up two earned runs over five and one-third innings.
On the mound for the Red Sox is southpaw Payton Tolle. This season, he has a 3.20 ERA and 3.24 FIP in 107 innings of work. Last time out, he struck out 14 over six innings of work against the Athletics. Safe to say that the Blue Jays will be in tough.
There are just two left-handed batters in the Blue Jays lineup. Andrés Giménez has been terrific for the past two weeks or so, and he’ll slot in sixth. Nathan Lukes is playing right field and bats ninth. Brett Bateman finally gets a day off, but Charles McAdoo doesn’t as he’s batting lead-off and playing left field.
McAdoo is followed by Ernie Clement, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., George Springer, and Kazuma Okamoto. With Scherzer on the mound, switch-hitter Brandon Valenzuela is catching and bats seventh, followed by Myles Straw.
Let’s set up Thursday’s series finale!
Location: Toronto
First Pitch: 3:07 PM ET
Watch/Listen: Sportsnet, SN590
Starting Pitchers
Toronto Blue Jays – Max Scherzer: 1-4 record, 7.25 ERA, 36 IP, 27 SO, 15 BB
Philadelphia Phillies – Payton Tolle: 7-6 record, 3.20 ERA, 107 IP, 124 SO, 29 BB
Lineups:
Blue Jays:
- Charles McAdoo – LF
- Ernie Clement – 2B
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 1B
- George Springer – DH
- Kazuma Okamoto – 3B
- Andrés Giménez – SS
- Brandon Valenzuela – C
- Myles Straw – CF
- Nathan Lukes – RF
Red Sox:
- Nick Sogard – 2B
- Ceddanne Rafaela – CF
- Wilyer Abreu – RF
- Willson Contreras – 1B
- Masataka Yoshida – DH
- Caleb Durbin – 3B
- Jarren Duran – LF
- Andruw Monasterio – SS
- Connor Wong – C
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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