<p>The <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> have lost three of their last four series, but they can get back on track on Wednesday with a victory.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/instant-reaction-ernie-clement-daulton-varsho-homer-toronto-blue-jays-5-1-win-cubs">In the series opener on Tuesday</a>, the Blue Jays defeated the Chicago Cubs 5-1 to get their record to 70-50 with a four-and-a-half game lead on the division. A win on Wednesday gives them the series win in this three-game series.</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>It won&#8217;t be easy though, as Cade Horton is expected to start for the Cubs. This season, he has a 3.18 ERA and 3.90 FIP, but hasn&#8217;t given up an earned run since July 9. Since that game, Horton has pitched 22.2 scoreless innings with 16 strikeouts and seven walks. Starting for the Blue Jays is Kevin Gausman, who had a good start his last time out, going seven innings with one run allowed. Gausman seems to have a handful of good starts, followed by a poor start.</p>
<p>The hottest batter on the Blue Jays is Ernie Clement, who is slashing .405/.421/.838 with four home runs in 38 plate appearances since August 3. All four of those home runs have come in the past five games, two of which have come against right-handed pitchers. Because of the Cubs starting a righty, Clement is batting eighth.</p>
<p><a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/looking-toronto-blue-jays-deploy-ernie-clement-when-andres-gimenez-returns">Clement</a> is preceded by another hot batter, left-handed batter Joey Loperfido, with the recently <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-andres-gimenez-il-designate-buddy-kennedy-assignment">returning Andrés Giménez</a> batting ninth. With a righty on the mound, Nathan Lukes leads off, followed by Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Addison Barger will make his first start as a designated hitter, with Alejandro Kirk and Daulton Varsho following him.</p>
<p>Speaking of Varsho, the 29-year-old hit his 12th home run of the season on Wednesday. That isn&#8217;t all that impressive until you consider he&#8217;s had just 133 plate appearances so far this season, meaning Varsho is hitting a home run every 11 plate appearances on average.</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s set up Wednesday evening&#8217;s game!</p>
<hr />
<p><strong>Location: Toronto</strong></p>
<p><strong>First Pitch: 7:07 PM ET</strong></p>
<p><strong>Watch/Listen: Sportsnet, SN590</strong></p>
<h2>Starting Pitchers</h2>
<p><strong>Toronto Blue Jays &#8211; Kevin Gausman:</strong> 8-8 record, 3.85 ERA, 135.2 IP, 135 SO, 39 BB</p>
<p><strong>Chicago Cubs &#8211; Cade Horton:</strong> 6-3 record, 3.18 ERA, 79.1 IP, 59 SO, 25 BB</p>
<h2>Lineups:</h2>
<p><strong>Blue Jays:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Nathan Lukes &#8211; RF</li>
<li>Bo Bichette &#8211; SS</li>
<li>Vladimir Guerrero Jr. &#8211; 1B</li>
<li>Addison Barger &#8211; DH</li>
<li>Alejandro Kirk &#8211; C</li>
<li>Daulton Varsho &#8211; CF</li>
<li>Joey Loperfido &#8211; LF</li>
<li>Ernie Clement &#8211; 3B</li>
<li>Andrés Giménez &#8211; 2B</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>Cubs:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Michael Busch &#8211; 1B</li>
<li>Seiya Suzuki &#8211; DH</li>
<li>Kyle Tucker &#8211; RF</li>
<li>Ian Happ &#8211; LF</li>
<li>Pete Crow-Armstrong &#8211; CF</li>
<li>Nico Hoerner &#8211; 2B</li>
<li>Dansby Swanson &#8211; SS</li>
<li>Matt Shaw &#8211; 3B</li>
<li>Miguel Amaya &#8211; C</li>
</ol>
<hr />
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Blue Jays Nation</a>, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Oilersnation</a>, and <a href="https://flamesnation.ca/author/ryley-delaney">FlamesNation</a>. She can be followed on Twitter <a href="https://x.com/Ryley__Delaney">@Ryley__Delaney</a>.</span></i></p>
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The <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> have lost three of their last four series, but they can get back on track on Wednesday with a victory.



<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/instant-reaction-ernie-clement-daulton-varsho-homer-toronto-blue-jays-5-1-win-cubs">In the series opener on Tuesday</a>, the Blue Jays defeated the Chicago Cubs 5-1 to get their record to 70-50 with a four-and-a-half game lead on the division. A win on Wednesday gives them the series win in this three-game series.
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&nbsp;

It won't be easy though, as Cade Horton is expected to start for the Cubs. This season, he has a 3.18 ERA and 3.90 FIP, but hasn't given up an earned run since July 9. Since that game, Horton has pitched 22.2 scoreless innings with 16 strikeouts and seven walks. Starting for the Blue Jays is Kevin Gausman, who had a good start his last time out, going seven innings with one run allowed. Gausman seems to have a handful of good starts, followed by a poor start.

The hottest batter on the Blue Jays is Ernie Clement, who is slashing .405/.421/.838 with four home runs in 38 plate appearances since August 3. All four of those home runs have come in the past five games, two of which have come against right-handed pitchers. Because of the Cubs starting a righty, Clement is batting eighth.

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/looking-toronto-blue-jays-deploy-ernie-clement-when-andres-gimenez-returns">Clement</a> is preceded by another hot batter, left-handed batter Joey Loperfido, with the recently <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-andres-gimenez-il-designate-buddy-kennedy-assignment">returning Andrés Giménez</a> batting ninth. With a righty on the mound, Nathan Lukes leads off, followed by Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Addison Barger will make his first start as a designated hitter, with Alejandro Kirk and Daulton Varsho following him.

Speaking of Varsho, the 29-year-old hit his 12th home run of the season on Wednesday. That isn't all that impressive until you consider he's had just 133 plate appearances so far this season, meaning Varsho is hitting a home run every 11 plate appearances on average.

Let's set up Wednesday evening's game!

<hr />

<strong>Location: Toronto</strong>

<strong>First Pitch: 7:07 PM ET</strong>

<strong>Watch/Listen: Sportsnet, SN590</strong>
<h2>Starting Pitchers</h2>
<strong>Toronto Blue Jays - Kevin Gausman:</strong> 8-8 record, 3.85 ERA, 135.2 IP, 135 SO, 39 BB

<strong>Chicago Cubs - Cade Horton:</strong> 6-3 record, 3.18 ERA, 79.1 IP, 59 SO, 25 BB
<h2>Lineups:</h2>
<strong>Blue Jays:</strong>
<ol>
 	<li>Nathan Lukes - RF</li>
 	<li>Bo Bichette - SS</li>
 	<li>Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - 1B</li>
 	<li>Addison Barger - DH</li>
 	<li>Alejandro Kirk - C</li>
 	<li>Daulton Varsho - CF</li>
 	<li>Joey Loperfido - LF</li>
 	<li>Ernie Clement - 3B</li>
 	<li>Andrés Giménez - 2B</li>
</ol>
<strong>Cubs:</strong>
<ol>
 	<li>Michael Busch - 1B</li>
 	<li>Seiya Suzuki - DH</li>
 	<li>Kyle Tucker - RF</li>
 	<li>Ian Happ - LF</li>
 	<li>Pete Crow-Armstrong - CF</li>
 	<li>Nico Hoerner - 2B</li>
 	<li>Dansby Swanson - SS</li>
 	<li>Matt Shaw - 3B</li>
 	<li>Miguel Amaya - C</li>
</ol>

<hr />

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Blue Jays Nation</a>, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Oilersnation</a>, and <a href="https://flamesnation.ca/author/ryley-delaney">FlamesNation</a>. She can be followed on Twitter <a href="https://x.com/Ryley__Delaney">@Ryley__Delaney</a>.</span></i>

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