It just seems as if the Toronto Blue Jays can’t fire on all cylinders this season.
When their bats are hot, either starting pitch or relief pitching lefts them down. When their pitchers do well, the bats go cold, the latter happened in the series against the Tigers. The Jays were held to a .219/.292/.323 slash line in 107 plate appearances against the Tigers, hitting their two home runs in the series opener. Overall, they had a 74 wRC+.
One of the bright spots from that series was Daulton Varsho, who hit his team-leading sixth home run. For context, Varsho has only played 14 games this season. It seems that his repaired shoulder has helped his offence, and the centre fielder is batting third in Tuesday’s game.
The top two remain the same, as Bo Bichette bats lead-off and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. bats second. George Springer remains in the lead-off spot, and the red-hot Alejandro Kirk follows him. One player who isn’t hot is Anthony Santander, who moves down to the sixth spot. Addison Barger bats seventh, Ernie Clement eighth, and Nathan Lukes ninth.
Chris Bassitt gets the start, facing off against Dylan Cease. Bassitt has been the better of the two pitchers this season, but has a 5.14 ERA and a 4.92 FIP in his last five starts. The good news is that the veteran righty went five and two-thirds innings pitched in his last start, giving up just one earned run.
Let’s set up Tuesday’s series opener!
Location: Toronto
First Pitch: 7:07 PM ET
Watch/Listen: Sportsnet One, SN590
Starting Pitchers
Toronto Blue Jays – Chris Bassitt: 3-2 record, 3.16 ERA, 51.1 IP, 55 SO, 10 BB
San Diego Padres – Dylan Cease: 1-2 record, 4.60 ERA, 47 IP, 58 SO, 18 BB
Lineups:
Blue Jays:
- Bo Bichette – SS
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 1B
- Daulton Varsho – CF
- George Springer – RF
- Alejandro Kirk – C
- Anthony Santander – DH
- Addison Barger – 3B
- Ernie Clement – 2B
- Nathan Lukes – LF
Padres:
- Fernando Tatis Jr. – RF
- Luis Arraez – 1B
- Manny Machado – 3B
- Jackson Merill – CF
- Xander Bogaerts – SS
- Gavin Sheets – DH
- Jake Cronenworth – 2B
- Jason Heyward – LF
- Martin Maldonado – C