The Toronto Blue Jays are one of the hottest teams in baseball, having won eight of their last nine games since returning from the All-Star break. They swept the Giants, took three of four from the Yankees, and are knocking on the door of another sweep, this time against the Detroit Tigers, who have been one of the coldest teams out of the break.

Taking the hill for Toronto is veteran Max Scherzer, who celebrates his 41st birthday pitching against his former team. The right-hander spent five seasons with the AL Central squad, posting a 3.52 ERA through 1013 innings, earning his first Cy Young Award back in 2013.

This season, the future Hall of Famer owns a 5.14 ERA and a 5.30 FIP through 28 innings, having made just six starts this year. He owns a 9.0 K/9 and has limited the walks to a 2.6 BB/9 mark, but opponents have found ways to collect hits and home runs off of him, amassing an 8.7 H/9 and a 2.3 HR/9. In his last start against New York, he allowed four earned runs through five innings of work and has allowed four homers in his last two starts. The Jays are 3-2 over his last five outings since returning from the IL.

Opposite Scherzer this afternoon will be right-hander Jack Flaherty, who makes his 21st start of the campaign. Re-joining the Tigers this past winter, Flaherty has struggled so far this season, posting a 4.77 ERA through 103 2/3 innings with 91 hits and 55 earned runs against. He has posted solid strikeout numbers all season long (11.3 K/9) but has seen an uptick in the free passes, allowing 43 so far.

Working with a five-pitch mix, Flaherty leans heavily on his four-seamer, and his knuckle-curve is his putaway pitch, posting a 28.6% rate this year. His curveball is the only pitch that has a positive run value (+2) while the remaining four sit below the zero line.

Lineup-wise, the Jays will have Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Alejandro Kirk likely wasn’t going to start today, given the quick turnaround after last night’s game, but the All-Star backstop left the game early last night after taking a foul tip off the mask. Nathan Lukes makes the start in centre field while Alan Roden gets the nod in right field and Joey Loperfido takes over in left.

Location: Comerica Park – Detroit, Michigan

First Pitch: 1:40 pm EST

Watch/Listen: Sportsnet / Sportsnet 590 The Fan

Toronto Blue Jays – Max Scherzer: 1-0 record, 5.14 ERA, 28 IP, 28 SO, 8 BB

Detroit Tigers – Jack Flaherty: 5-10 record, 4.77 ERA, 103 2/3 IP, 130 SO, 43 BB