The schedule eases up, at least on paper, for the Toronto Blue Jays as they return to Rogers Centre to begin a three-game series against the slumping Chicago White Sox on Monday.
The Blue Jays went 5-4 in a tough nine-game stretch that finished Sunday, with three games each against the Tampa Bay Rays, Houston Astros and New York Yankees.
Here’s a look at the series.
Probable Pitchers
Monday, 7:07 p.m. ET / 4:07 p.m. PT: Toronto RHP Chris Bassitt (2-2, 5.40 ERA) vs. Chicago RHP Lance Lynn (0-2, 7.59 ERA), Sportsnet ONE
Tuesday, 7:07 p.m. ET / 4:07 p.m. PT: Toronto RHP Jose Berrios (1-3, 6.23 ERA) vs. Chicago RHP Mike Clevinger (2-1, 3.26 ERA), Sportsnet ONE
Wednesday, 1:07 p.m. ET / 10:07 a.m. PT: Toronto LHP Yusei Kikuchi (3-0, 3.80 ERA) vs. Chicago RHP Michael Kopech (0-2, 6.97 ERA), Sportsnet
All games on SN NOW and Sportsnet 590 The Fan.
Latest on the Blue Jays
The Blue Jays (13-9) completed a 2-1 series victory at Yankee Stadium with a 5-1 win over New York on Sunday.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who reiterated his thoughts that he will never sign with the Yankees before the series, hit a pair of home runs in the series to lead the offensive charge.
Guerrero Jr. opened the scoring with a two-run blast in the sixth inning on Sunday and Daulton Varsho followed with another homer.
That was more than enough for Kevin Gausman, who bounced back with an excellent start after a rare rough outing in Houston.
All three of Toronto’s starters — Kikuchi, Alek Manoah and Gausman — were strong in the Bronx as the rotation continues to stabilize.
Latest on the White Sox
The White Sox (7-15) are second-last in the AL Central after getting swept in Tampa against the MLB-leading Rays this weekend.
The final 17 White Sox hitters were all retired in a 4-1 loss on Sunday.
The White Sox, under new manager Pedro Grifol, are off to their worst start since going 6-16 in 2018.
Chicago, which missed the playoffs last year at 81-81 after making it the previous two years, has lost nine of its past 11.
Pitching has been the biggest problem for the White Sox, who are 27th in MLB with a team ERA of 5.43.
Charlie’s back
Former Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo, now the bench coach for the White Sox, will be back at Rogers Centre for the first time since being fired and replaced by John Schneider last July.
Short-handed Sox
The Blue Jays face a team missing some key players for the second series in a row.
Star shortstop Tim Anderson (sprained left knee) and third baseman Yoan Moncada (lower back soreness) are injured.
Star closer Liam Hendricks plans to return after announcing he is cancer free following a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
New Face
Outfielder Andrew Benintendi was Chicago’s big off-season addition, signing a five-year, $75-million deal with the White Sox.
The 2022 All-Star was traded to the Yankees by the Kansas City Royals at last year’s trade deadline.
Benintendi is slashing .282/.333/.346 with no homers and five RBI this year.
2022 Season Series
The Blue Jays went 4-2, sweeping a series in Toronto and losing two of three in Chicago while Montoyo was still manager.
Up Next
It’s a Wild Card rematch against the visiting Seattle Mariners, who swept Toronto 2-0 in a best-of-three series last year at Rogers Centre.
The three-game series, starting Friday, marks the return of outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, who was traded to Seattle this off-season for reliever Erik Swanson and prospect pitcher Adam Macko.
