The Toronto Blue Jays finished the first half of the regular season by demolishing the Boston Red Sox last night to the tune of a 9-0 drubbing. Jose Berrios lasted seven innings, and the Jays’ bats gave him some support at the plate, with Boston eventually putting a position player on the mound for the top of the ninth inning. With this win, Toronto improves to 44-37 on the season and sits third in the AL East and the second spot in the AL Wild Card race, just ahead of the Seattle Mariners.

The Blue Jays’ pitching staff have thrown 18 shutout innings dating back to Wednesday’s extra-innings loss in Cleveland, and right-hander Chris Bassitt will look to continue that trend this afternoon at Fenway.

Bassitt has been one of the strongest pitchers in the Jays’ rotation this season, owning a 3.61 ERA through 16 starts this year. Across 92 1/3 innings, the veteran arm owns an 8.8 K/9 and has been holding the free passes to a stellar 2.0 BB/9. Opponents are putting the ball in play at a 9.3 H/9 rate and own a .260 average and a .705 OPS, but he’s limited the damage, allowing just 37 earned runs to date this year. This is reflected in his 3.42 FIP, as the limited walks and 1.0 HR/9 have contributed to the limited runs against.

June has been kind to the righty, allowing just nine earned runs through 26 innings, amassing a 3.12 ERA and a 3.01 FIP. Bassitt has faced the Red Sox this season at Fenway, and he went 5 2/3 innings while allowing just one earned run on 86 pitches, striking out five in the eventual extra-innings loss. He owns a career 1.89 ERA with just seven earned runs allowed through 33 1/3 innings.

Opposite Bassitt this afternoon will be right-hander Lucas Giolito, who makes his 11th start of the season.

The former White Sox/Angels starter enters today’s contest with a 4.53 ERA and a 4.30 FIP through 51 2/3 innings, having missed the start of the season with a hamstring strain. He’s allowed 26 earned runs and amassed a 1.374 WHIP while striking out batters at an 8.0 K/9 clip.

Giolito’s first start of the year was against Toronto in late April, allowing three earned runs and two homers through six innings of work. The Red Sox have won four of his last five starts dating back to May 30th, and Giolito will be looking to put the Red Sox back on the right track after their recent skid post-Rafael Devers.

The Jays announced before today’s game that Will Wagner was being recalled from triple-A, with Alan Roden being sent down to Buffalo in response. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be the DH for today’s game, with George Springer taking over in left field in front of the Green Monster.

Location: Fenway Park – Boston, Massachusetts

First Pitch: 4:10 PM EST

Watch/Listen: Sportsnet / Sportsnet 590 The Fan

Toronto Blue Jays – Chris Bassitt: 7-3 record, 3.61 ERA, 92 1/3 IP, 90 SO, 21 BB

Boston Red Sox – Lucas Giolito: 3-1 record, 4.53 ERA, 51 2/3 IP, 46 SO, 17 BB