After a tumultuous start to the season, the Toronto Blue Jays (27-29, fifth in the AL East) appear to be finding a semblance of consistency heading into Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates (26-31, fourth in the NL Central).
Winners of four in a row, the Jays are hoping this stretch — albeit against lesser competition — can spark a run that helps them climb out of a 4.5-game hole and into a wild-card spot.
A win on Saturday would earn Toronto its first five-game win streak of the season, having won four in a row on just one other occasion.
Meanwhile, the Pirates have been struggling, losers of four of their last five, failing to recapture the magic that propelled them to a 5-0 start to the season.
In Game 1 of their series and their first face-off of the season on Friday, the Blue Jays came out victorious after a grueling 14-inning affair that was ended courtesy of a two-run homer from Davis Schneider.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Pirates: Mitch Keller (6-3, 3.59 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 58 strikeouts)
Blue Jays: Yusei Kikuchi (2-4, 3.25 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 61 strikeouts)
TOP PERFORMERS
Blue Jays: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has 10 doubles and five home runs for the Blue Jays. Isiah Kiner-Falefa is 12-for-35 with three doubles, a triple, two home runs and five RBI over the past 10 games.
Pirates: Andrew McCutchen leads the Pirates with eight home runs while slugging .405. Nick Gonzales is 15-for-39 with three doubles, a triple, a home run and 10 RBI over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES
Blue Jays: 6-4, .245 batting average, 3.03 ERA, outscored opponents by 15 runs
Pirates: 5-5, .235 batting average, 4.07 ERA, outscored by three runs
INJURIES
Blue Jays: Alek Manoah: 15-day IL (elbow), Yariel Rodriguez: 15-day IL (spine), Bowden Francis: 15-day IL (forearm), Jordan Romano: 15-day IL (elbow)
Pirates: Martin Perez: 15-day IL (groin), Joey Bart: 10-day IL (thumb), Jason Delay: 60-day IL (knee), Marco Gonzales: 15-day IL (forearm), Ryan Borucki: 15-day IL (left triceps inflammation), Dauri Moreta: 60-day IL (elbow), Endy Rodriguez: 60-day IL (elbow), Johan Oviedo: 60-day IL (elbow)
— With files from Associated Press
