The slumping Toronto Blue Jays return to Rogers Centre on Tuesday night to open a critical homestand before the all-star break.
Losers of nine of their past 10, the Blue Jays return to interleague action when they face the Philadelphia Phillies in a two-game mini-series.
The teams both enter the series tied for the final wild-card spot in their respective leagues.
Here’s a look at the matchup:
Probable pitchers
Tuesday, 7:07 p.m. ET / 4:07 p.m. PT (Sportsnet): Toronto RHP Jose Berrios (6-4, 5.44 ERA) vs. Philadelphia RHP Andrew Bellatti (1-3, 3.14 ERA)
Wednesday, 7:07 p.m. ET / 4:07 p.m. PT (Sportsnet): Toronto RHP Ross Stripling vs. Philadelphia RHP Zack Wheeler (8-4, 2.46 ERA)
Latest on the Blue Jays
The Blue Jays (45-42) are coming off a disastrous 1-6 road trip through Oakland and Seattle, capped by a four-game sweep at the hands of the Mariners in front of thousands of disappointed fans of Canada’s team.
Everything that could go wrong essentially did out west for Toronto.
Starting pitching was the biggest concern heading into the Seattle series, but it turned out to be not as bad as feared.
The bigger problem was the bats going cold again with ace Alek Manoah losing a 2-1 decision on Saturday and the offence going a pathetic 2-for-20 with runners in scoring position in Friday’s 5-2 loss in 11 innings.
Then, Sunday, reliever Adam Cimber gave up a two-run homer to Carlos Santana in the eighth after Gabriel Moreno couldn’t catch an easy pop-fly, leading to the winning runs for the Mariners in a 6-5 setback.
The Blue Jays are far closer to last in the AL East (Baltimore is two back) than first (the Yankees are 16.5 up).
Latest on the Phillies
The Phillies (46-41) settled for a split of a four-game series in St. Louis after losing 6-1 to the Cardinals on Monday.
The result of the series left the Phillies and Cards tied for the third and final wild-card spot in the National League.
Philadelphia also comes into the series with a cold offence, having only scored seven runs in four games against the Cardinals.
The Phillies are trying to make the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.
Jays’ pitching situation
Once again, Toronto enters a series with an uncertain pitching plan.
On Tuesday morning, the Blue Jays announced Jose Berrios will start the series opener. He last started last Wednesday in Oakland, pitching well in a 2-1 win.
Previously, there was hope right-hander Kevin Gausman could start Tuesday.
Gausman has been out since taking a comebacker off an ankle on July 2 against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Short-handed visitors
Four Phillies – right-handed starters Aaron Nola and Kyle Gibson, catcher J.T. Realmuto and third baseman Alec Bohm – aren’t making the trip because they are on the restricted list for not meeting Canada’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
Bohm exited with a finger injury after sliding into second base on Monday, so he may have not been available anyway.
The Phillies switched their pitching rotation in the past week to avoid having Gibson’s day come up in Toronto.
It leaves the Phillies with their second bullpen game in three days on Tuesday – hardly ideal.
The good news for the Phillies is they have Wheeler, who has a 1.53 ERA in the past 13 starts, going Wednesday.
Bohm, meanwhile, joins a lengthy injured list that also includes reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper (thumb) and starters Ranger Suarez (back) and Zach Eflin (knee)
Canadian homecoming
Canadian Rob Thomson was named interim manager of the Phillies after the team fired Joe Girardi in June.
The former Phillies bench coach, 58, has guided the team to a 24-12 record.
Thomson told The Athletic that several members of the 1984 Canadian Olympic baseball team he played for as a catcher will be in attendance.
When asked if the Blue Jays will honour him on the Jumbotron, the first Canadian manager since 1934 said: “I hope not.”
Thomson is familiar with the AL East, having worked in various roles with the Yankees from 1990 to 2017.
Interleague play
The Blue Jays are 4-4 against the National League this season.
The Phillies are 7-6 versus the AL.
Hand returns
Blue Jays fans had to watch former Toronto bullpen member Ryan Borucki pitch two scoreless innings against their team last week in Seattle after struggling badly with the Jays this season.
It would be tough to swallow if former Toronto reliever Brad Hand has similar results.
Acquired by Toronto before last year’s playoff push, the veteran left-hander had a 7.27 ERA in 8.2 innings for the Blue Jays before he was designated for assignment.
This year, Hand has a 2.33 ERA in 27 innings. He signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Phillies prior to the season.
Up next
The Blue Jays host the Kansas City Royals, who are last in the AL Central, for a four-game series starting Thursday.
