<p>Sunday&#8217;s <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> game is the most important of the season (so far).</p>
<p></p>
<p>As it stands, the Blue Jays have a three-game lead over the New York Yankees in the American League East. A win brings them to four games over the Bronx Bombers; a loss means the Yankees are just two games behind the Jays. It&#8217;s as must-win as a game can get in September.</p>
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<p>The last time the Blue Jays faced Max Fried, he allowed four earned runs and struck out just two batters in six innings of work, as the Yankees fell and were eventually swept. That kick-started a rough span of games for the left-handed pitcher, where he had a 6.80 ERA and 4.63 FIP in 41 innings pitched. However, he&#8217;s gotten back on track over his last three games, giving up just two earned runs in 20 innings of work.</p>
<p>As for the Blue Jays, they&#8217;ll have a Max of their own starting Sunday&#8217;s game, as Max Scherzer will make the start. His last turn out saw him pitch just four innings, giving up four earned runs, and he was pulled due to upper back tightness. That ended a stretch of games where Scherzer pitched at least six innings in eight of nine games.</p>
<p>The Blue Jays&#8217; lineup isn&#8217;t as strong as it could be. Due to <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/extending-bo-bichette-should-be-the-top-priority-this-offseason-toronto-blue-jays">Bo Bichette&#8217;s</a> collision<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/instant-reaction-toronto-blue-jays-fail-hit-with-risp-in-3-1-defeat-yankees"> in Saturday&#8217;s game</a>, he&#8217;ll be on the bench for the series finale. With a lefty on the mound, Daulton Varsho, Addison Barger, and Andrés Giménez are out of the lineup. It&#8217;s worth noting that Giménez hit a home run off Fried <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/instant-reaction-toronto-blue-jays-thump-yankees-12-5-move-game-behind-division-leaders">on Canada Day</a>.</p>
<p>George Srpinger leads off, followed by a rare Davis Schneider start; he&#8217;ll be batting second. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is starting to get hot, and he&#8217;s in his usual spot batting third. Alejandro Kirk bats cleanup, Ernie Clement plays shortstop and bats fifth, and Ty France is at first base and batting sixth. Their bottom six is comprised of <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/how-will-toronto-blue-jays-utilize-isiah-kiner-falefa">Isiah Kiner-Falefa</a> at third base, Nathan Lukes in left field, and Myles Straw in centre field.</p>
<p>You have to imagine that later in the game, after Fried is out, Varsho, Barger, and Giménez will all be available, potentially even Bichette.</p>
<hr />
<p><strong>Location: The Bronx</strong></p>
<p><strong>First Pitch: 1:35 PM ET</strong></p>
<p><strong>Watch/Listen: Sportsnet, SN590</strong></p>
<h2>Starting Pitchers</h2>
<p><strong>Toronto Blue Jays &#8211; Max Scherzer:</strong> 5-2 record, 4.11 ERA, 70 IP, 62 SO, 16 BB</p>
<p><strong>New York Yankees &#8211; Max Fried:</strong> 15-5 record, 2.98 ERA, 169 IP, 159 SO, 45 BB</p>
<h2>Lineups:</h2>
<p><strong>Blue Jays:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>George Springer &#8211; RF</li>
<li>Davis Schneider &#8211; 2B</li>
<li>Vladimir Guerrero Jr. &#8211; DH</li>
<li>Alejandro Kirk &#8211; C</li>
<li>Ernie Clement &#8211; SS</li>
<li>Ty France &#8211; 1B</li>
<li>Isiah Kiner-Falefa &#8211; 3B</li>
<li>Nathan Lukes &#8211; LF</li>
<li>Myles Straw &#8211; CF</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>Yankees:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Trent Grisham &#8211; CF</li>
<li>Aaron Judge &#8211; RF</li>
<li>Cody Bellinger &#8211; LF</li>
<li>Ben Rice &#8211; 1B</li>
<li>Giancarlo Stanton &#8211; DH</li>
<li>Jazz Chisholm Jr. &#8211; 2B</li>
<li>Austin Wells &#8211; C</li>
<li>Anthony Volpe &#8211; SS</li>
<li>Ryan McMahon &#8211; 3B</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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Sunday's <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> game is the most important of the season (so far).



As it stands, the Blue Jays have a three-game lead over the New York Yankees in the American League East. A win brings them to four games over the Bronx Bombers; a loss means the Yankees are just two games behind the Jays. It's as must-win as a game can get in September.
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&nbsp;

The last time the Blue Jays faced Max Fried, he allowed four earned runs and struck out just two batters in six innings of work, as the Yankees fell and were eventually swept. That kick-started a rough span of games for the left-handed pitcher, where he had a 6.80 ERA and 4.63 FIP in 41 innings pitched. However, he's gotten back on track over his last three games, giving up just two earned runs in 20 innings of work.

As for the Blue Jays, they'll have a Max of their own starting Sunday's game, as Max Scherzer will make the start. His last turn out saw him pitch just four innings, giving up four earned runs, and he was pulled due to upper back tightness. That ended a stretch of games where Scherzer pitched at least six innings in eight of nine games.

The Blue Jays' lineup isn't as strong as it could be. Due to <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/extending-bo-bichette-should-be-the-top-priority-this-offseason-toronto-blue-jays">Bo Bichette's</a> collision<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/instant-reaction-toronto-blue-jays-fail-hit-with-risp-in-3-1-defeat-yankees"> in Saturday's game</a>, he'll be on the bench for the series finale. With a lefty on the mound, Daulton Varsho, Addison Barger, and Andrés Giménez are out of the lineup. It's worth noting that Giménez hit a home run off Fried <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/instant-reaction-toronto-blue-jays-thump-yankees-12-5-move-game-behind-division-leaders">on Canada Day</a>.

George Srpinger leads off, followed by a rare Davis Schneider start; he'll be batting second. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is starting to get hot, and he's in his usual spot batting third. Alejandro Kirk bats cleanup, Ernie Clement plays shortstop and bats fifth, and Ty France is at first base and batting sixth. Their bottom six is comprised of <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/how-will-toronto-blue-jays-utilize-isiah-kiner-falefa">Isiah Kiner-Falefa</a> at third base, Nathan Lukes in left field, and Myles Straw in centre field.

You have to imagine that later in the game, after Fried is out, Varsho, Barger, and Giménez will all be available, potentially even Bichette.

<hr />

<strong>Location: The Bronx</strong>

<strong>First Pitch: 1:35 PM ET</strong>

<strong>Watch/Listen: Sportsnet, SN590</strong>
<h2>Starting Pitchers</h2>
<strong>Toronto Blue Jays - Max Scherzer:</strong> 5-2 record, 4.11 ERA, 70 IP, 62 SO, 16 BB

<strong>New York Yankees - Max Fried:</strong> 15-5 record, 2.98 ERA, 169 IP, 159 SO, 45 BB
<h2>Lineups:</h2>
<strong>Blue Jays:</strong>
<ol>
 	<li>George Springer - RF</li>
 	<li>Davis Schneider - 2B</li>
 	<li>Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - DH</li>
 	<li>Alejandro Kirk - C</li>
 	<li>Ernie Clement - SS</li>
 	<li>Ty France - 1B</li>
 	<li>Isiah Kiner-Falefa - 3B</li>
 	<li>Nathan Lukes - LF</li>
 	<li>Myles Straw - CF</li>
</ol>
<strong>Yankees:</strong>
<ol>
 	<li>Trent Grisham - CF</li>
 	<li>Aaron Judge - RF</li>
 	<li>Cody Bellinger - LF</li>
 	<li>Ben Rice - 1B</li>
 	<li>Giancarlo Stanton - DH</li>
 	<li>Jazz Chisholm Jr. - 2B</li>
 	<li>Austin Wells - C</li>
 	<li>Anthony Volpe - SS</li>
 	<li>Ryan McMahon - 3B</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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