<p>Home sweet home.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> return to Toronto after a subpar road trip that saw them go 2-4, including being swept at the hands of their American League East rivals, the Tampa Bay Rays.</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>More worrisome was their offence on that road trip. After scoring 24 runs in three games against the Padres, the Jays have scored just six runs in their last six games, including being shut out twice. Fortunately, their pitching came through in the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/toronto-blue-jays-series-recap-jays-won-low-scoring-series-against-rangers">series against the Texas Rangers</a>, but it seems that the Jays can&#8217;t fire on all cylinders for an extended period of time.</p>
<p>The last two games saw the Jays mix up their top two for the first time this season, as Bo Bichette has been off his feet for two games thanks to lower-back tightness. That didn&#8217;t stop him from the biggest hit in Wednesday&#8217;s game, <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/bo-bichettes-late-home-run-gives-toronto-blue-jays-2-0-win">mashing a two-run home run in the top of the ninth</a>.</p>
<p>That said, Bichette is back at the lead-off spot as he&#8217;s playing shortstop on Thursday. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. moves back to the two spot, with George Springer entering the top three in the lineup for the first time this season. Alejandro Kirk is batting cleanup, and Anthony Santander remains lower down the lineup, batting fifth. The bottom half of the Blue Jays&#8217; lineup consists of Ernie Clement, Myles Straw, Jonatan Clase, and Michael Stefanic.</p>
<p>Starting the game for the Blue Jays is Jose Berrios. After his awful Opening Day start, Berrios has a 3.66 ERA and a 4.26 FIP in 59 innings pitched. He had a tough start on May 13, but has pitched back-to-back quality starts since then, as well as four quality starts in his last five games.</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s set up Thursday&#8217;s series opener against the Athletics, who still don&#8217;t have a city name attached to the organization.</p>
<hr />
<p><strong>Location: Toronto</strong></p>
<p><strong>First Pitch: 7:07 PM ET</strong></p>
<p><strong>Watch/Listen: Sportsnet One, SN590</strong></p>
<h2>Starting Pitchers</h2>
<p><strong>Toronto Blue Jays &#8211; Jose Berrios:</strong> 1-2 record, 4.22 ERA, 64 IP, 56 SO, 26 BB</p>
<p><strong>Athletics &#8211; Jacob Lopez: </strong> 0-2 record, 2.57 ERA, 14 IP, 17 SO, 8 BB</p>
<h2>Lineups:</h2>
<p><strong>Blue Jays:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Bo Bichette &#8211; SS</li>
<li>Vladimir Guerrero Jr. &#8211; 1B</li>
<li>George Springer &#8211; DH</li>
<li>Alejandro Kirk &#8211; C</li>
<li>Anthony Santander &#8211; RF</li>
<li>Ernie Clement &#8211; 3B</li>
<li>Myles Straw &#8211; CF</li>
<li>Jonatan Clase &#8211; LF</li>
<li>Michael Stefanic &#8211; 2B</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>Athletics:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Lawrence Butler &#8211; RF</li>
<li>Jacob Wilson &#8211; SS</li>
<li>Brent Rooker &#8211; DH</li>
<li>Tyler Soderstrom &#8211; LF</li>
<li>Shea Langeliers &#8211; C</li>
<li>Miguel Andujar &#8211; 3B</li>
<li>Drew Avans &#8211; CF</li>
<li>Luis Urias &#8211; 2B</li>
<li>Logan Davidson &#8211; 1B</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>. They can be followed on Twitter <a href="https://x.com/Ryley__Delaney">@Ryley__Delaney</a>.</span></i></p>
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Home sweet home.



The <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> return to Toronto after a subpar road trip that saw them go 2-4, including being swept at the hands of their American League East rivals, the Tampa Bay Rays.
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&nbsp;

More worrisome was their offence on that road trip. After scoring 24 runs in three games against the Padres, the Jays have scored just six runs in their last six games, including being shut out twice. Fortunately, their pitching came through in the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/toronto-blue-jays-series-recap-jays-won-low-scoring-series-against-rangers">series against the Texas Rangers</a>, but it seems that the Jays can't fire on all cylinders for an extended period of time.

The last two games saw the Jays mix up their top two for the first time this season, as Bo Bichette has been off his feet for two games thanks to lower-back tightness. That didn't stop him from the biggest hit in Wednesday's game, <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/bo-bichettes-late-home-run-gives-toronto-blue-jays-2-0-win">mashing a two-run home run in the top of the ninth</a>.

That said, Bichette is back at the lead-off spot as he's playing shortstop on Thursday. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. moves back to the two spot, with George Springer entering the top three in the lineup for the first time this season. Alejandro Kirk is batting cleanup, and Anthony Santander remains lower down the lineup, batting fifth. The bottom half of the Blue Jays' lineup consists of Ernie Clement, Myles Straw, Jonatan Clase, and Michael Stefanic.

Starting the game for the Blue Jays is Jose Berrios. After his awful Opening Day start, Berrios has a 3.66 ERA and a 4.26 FIP in 59 innings pitched. He had a tough start on May 13, but has pitched back-to-back quality starts since then, as well as four quality starts in his last five games.

Let's set up Thursday's series opener against the Athletics, who still don't have a city name attached to the organization.

<hr />

<strong>Location: Toronto</strong>

<strong>First Pitch: 7:07 PM ET</strong>

<strong>Watch/Listen: Sportsnet One, SN590</strong>
<h2>Starting Pitchers</h2>
<strong>Toronto Blue Jays - Jose Berrios:</strong> 1-2 record, 4.22 ERA, 64 IP, 56 SO, 26 BB

<strong>Athletics - Jacob Lopez: </strong> 0-2 record, 2.57 ERA, 14 IP, 17 SO, 8 BB
<h2>Lineups:</h2>
<strong>Blue Jays:</strong>
<ol>
 	<li>Bo Bichette - SS</li>
 	<li>Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - 1B</li>
 	<li>George Springer - DH</li>
 	<li>Alejandro Kirk - C</li>
 	<li>Anthony Santander - RF</li>
 	<li>Ernie Clement - 3B</li>
 	<li>Myles Straw - CF</li>
 	<li>Jonatan Clase - LF</li>
 	<li>Michael Stefanic - 2B</li>
</ol>
<strong>Athletics:</strong>
<ol>
 	<li>Lawrence Butler - RF</li>
 	<li>Jacob Wilson - SS</li>
 	<li>Brent Rooker - DH</li>
 	<li>Tyler Soderstrom - LF</li>
 	<li>Shea Langeliers - C</li>
 	<li>Miguel Andujar - 3B</li>
 	<li>Drew Avans - CF</li>
 	<li>Luis Urias - 2B</li>
 	<li>Logan Davidson - 1B</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>. They can be followed on Twitter <a href="https://x.com/Ryley__Delaney">@Ryley__Delaney</a>.</span></i>

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