All season long, the Toronto Blue Jays have made a habit of drama.
Most recently, Saturday’s 5-4 walk-off win over the Baltimore Orioles marked their 45th comeback win of the year, breaking a franchise record.
But with star pitcher Shane Bieber taking the mound Sunday, the Blue Jays will look to punctuate a potential series sweep with a stress-free win at Rogers Centre.
Live coverage on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ begins with Blue Jays Central at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT, followed by first pitch at 1:37 p.m. ET / 10:37 a.m. PT.
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Watch Blue Jays vs. Orioles on Sportsnet
The Toronto Blue Jays look for the series sweep against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre on Sunday. Catch the action on Sportsnet or Sportsnet+ starting at 1:30 p.m. ET / 10:30 a.m. PT.
Bieber, who was acquired from the Cleveland Guardians for pitching prospect Khal Stephen at the trade deadline, has enjoyed a solid start with the Blue Jays since returning from Tommy John Surgery.
The 2020 Cy Young winner has tossed 23 innings over four starts, fanning 25 opponents while issuing just three walks. In his most recent outing, Bieber went 5.2 innings against the Houston Astros, allowing three runs on nine hits in an eventual 4-3 Toronto victory.
He’ll be backed by a Blue Jays offence that may be finding its groove once more after scoring at least five runs in three straight games.
As has been the case all season, Toronto is enjoying contributions from up and down its lineup. On Saturday, it was Alejandro Kirk who came off the bench to snap an 0-for-19 skid with a pinch-hit single in the eighth inning before his walk-off sacrifice fly in the ninth.
Joey Loperfido, who was recently recalled from triple-A, also produced a clutch pinch-hit RBI single, while Addison Barger blasted his 20th long ball of the season.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jays are set to call up top pitching prospect Trey Yesavage from the minors with the 2024 first-rounder expected in Toronto on Sunday, Sportsnet reported Saturday.
Yesavage has posted exceptional minor-league numbers across four levels this season with a 3.12 ERA and 160 strikeouts compared to 41 walks in 98 innings. A starter by trade, the 22-year-old has made two of his last three appearance out of the bullpen, possibly priming him to help the big-league club down the stretch.
In the other dugout, Baltimore will start Albert Suarez as it runs a bullpen day. Suarez holds a 2.08 ERA in four appearances with the Orioles this season, all as a reliever. However, the 35-year-old Venezuelan made 24 starts for Baltimore last season.
The Blue Jays (86-62) continue to lead the AL East as they sit a season-high 24 games above .500. The New York Yankees (83-65), who trail by three games, and the Boston Red Sox (81-68), who trail by 5.5 games, will meet Sunday at Fenway Park as the Bronx Bombers go for a sweep of their own.
Toronto is back in action Monday when it begins a four-game road series against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
