<p>The <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> are in their best stretch of the season.</p>
<p></p>
<p>In their past three series, the Jays have won eight of ten games, including a massive series victory over the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/toronto-blue-jays-series-recap-jays-best-phillies-three-game-series">Philadelphia Phillies</a>. Thanks to their last 10 games, the Jays have a 33-29 record, the first time they&#8217;ve been four games over .500 since April 18. They&#8217;ve never been five games over .500 this season.</p>
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<p>That said, they have to keep it going. They are a half game back of the final Wild Card spot, currently occupied by the Tampa Bay Rays. If they were to sweep the weekend series against the Minnesota Twins, the Jays would surpass the team that beat them in the 2023 Wild Card series in the standings.</p>
<p>Addison Barger returns to the top third of the lineup, batting third behind Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/alejandro-kirks-offensive-resurgence-continues-with-walk-off-hit-against-jordan-romano">Alejandro Kirk</a> is batting cleanup, followed by George Springer and Nathan Lukes. The Jays&#8217; bottom third is comprised of Ernie Clement, Jonatan Clase, and Andres Gimenez.</p>
<p>Both Gimenez and Clement had a good series against the Phillies, as did Kirk and Bichette. Let&#8217;s hope the offence remains hot, as they scored 53 runs on their seven-game home stand. Before that was a six-game road trip where the Jays scored just six runs.</p>
<p>Paxton Schultz is set to make his second career big league start. The 27-year-old has been terrific in the six games he&#8217;s played, authoring a 1.84 ERA and a 3.15 FIP in 14.2 innings pitched, with a 32.3 K% and 6.5 BB%. It&#8217;s expected Eric Lauer will come in as the bulk reliever following Schultz.</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s set up Friday&#8217;s game against the Twins!</p>
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<p><strong>Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota</strong></p>
<p><strong>First Pitch: 8:10 PM ET</strong></p>
<p><strong>Watch/Listen: Sportsnet One, SN590</strong></p>
<h2>Starting Pitchers</h2>
<p><strong>Toronto Blue Jays &#8211; Paxton Schultz:</strong> 0-0 record, 1.84 ERA, 14.2 IP, 20 SO, 4 BB</p>
<p><strong>Minnesota Twins &#8211; Bailey Ober:</strong> 4-1 record, 3.48 ERA, 62 IP, 50 SO, 14 BB</p>
<h2>Lineups:</h2>
<p><strong>Blue Jays:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Bo Bichette -SS</li>
<li>Vladimir Guerrero Jr. &#8211; 1B</li>
<li>Addison Barger &#8211; RF</li>
<li>Alejandro Kirk &#8211; C</li>
<li>George Springer &#8211; DH</li>
<li>Nathan Lukes &#8211; LF</li>
<li>Ernie Clement &#8211; 3B</li>
<li>Jonatan Clase &#8211; CF</li>
<li>Andres Gimenez &#8211; 2B</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>Twins:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Byron Buxton &#8211; CF</li>
<li>Trevor Larnach &#8211; DH</li>
<li>Ty France &#8211; 1B</li>
<li>Matt Wallner &#8211; RF</li>
<li>Brooks Lee &#8211; SS</li>
<li>Royce Lewis &#8211; 3B</li>
<li>Kody Clemens &#8211; 2B</li>
<li>Harrison Bader &#8211; LF</li>
<li>Christian Vazquez &#8211; C</li>
</ol>
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<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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The <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> are in their best stretch of the season.



In their past three series, the Jays have won eight of ten games, including a massive series victory over the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/toronto-blue-jays-series-recap-jays-best-phillies-three-game-series">Philadelphia Phillies</a>. Thanks to their last 10 games, the Jays have a 33-29 record, the first time they've been four games over .500 since April 18. They've never been five games over .500 this season.
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&nbsp;

That said, they have to keep it going. They are a half game back of the final Wild Card spot, currently occupied by the Tampa Bay Rays. If they were to sweep the weekend series against the Minnesota Twins, the Jays would surpass the team that beat them in the 2023 Wild Card series in the standings.

Addison Barger returns to the top third of the lineup, batting third behind Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/alejandro-kirks-offensive-resurgence-continues-with-walk-off-hit-against-jordan-romano">Alejandro Kirk</a> is batting cleanup, followed by George Springer and Nathan Lukes. The Jays' bottom third is comprised of Ernie Clement, Jonatan Clase, and Andres Gimenez.

Both Gimenez and Clement had a good series against the Phillies, as did Kirk and Bichette. Let's hope the offence remains hot, as they scored 53 runs on their seven-game home stand. Before that was a six-game road trip where the Jays scored just six runs.

Paxton Schultz is set to make his second career big league start. The 27-year-old has been terrific in the six games he's played, authoring a 1.84 ERA and a 3.15 FIP in 14.2 innings pitched, with a 32.3 K% and 6.5 BB%. It's expected Eric Lauer will come in as the bulk reliever following Schultz.

Let's set up Friday's game against the Twins!

<hr />

<strong>Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota</strong>

<strong>First Pitch: 8:10 PM ET</strong>

<strong>Watch/Listen: Sportsnet One, SN590</strong>
<h2>Starting Pitchers</h2>
<strong>Toronto Blue Jays - Paxton Schultz:</strong> 0-0 record, 1.84 ERA, 14.2 IP, 20 SO, 4 BB

<strong>Minnesota Twins - Bailey Ober:</strong> 4-1 record, 3.48 ERA, 62 IP, 50 SO, 14 BB
<h2>Lineups:</h2>
<strong>Blue Jays:</strong>
<ol>
 	<li>Bo Bichette -SS</li>
 	<li>Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - 1B</li>
 	<li>Addison Barger - RF</li>
 	<li>Alejandro Kirk - C</li>
 	<li>George Springer - DH</li>
 	<li>Nathan Lukes - LF</li>
 	<li>Ernie Clement - 3B</li>
 	<li>Jonatan Clase - CF</li>
 	<li>Andres Gimenez - 2B</li>
</ol>
<strong>Twins:</strong>
<ol>
 	<li>Byron Buxton - CF</li>
 	<li>Trevor Larnach - DH</li>
 	<li>Ty France - 1B</li>
 	<li>Matt Wallner - RF</li>
 	<li>Brooks Lee - SS</li>
 	<li>Royce Lewis - 3B</li>
 	<li>Kody Clemens - 2B</li>
 	<li>Harrison Bader - LF</li>
 	<li>Christian Vazquez - 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>. They can be followed on Twitter <a href="https://x.com/Ryley__Delaney">@Ryley__Delaney</a>.</span></i>

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