The Toronto Blue Jays wrap up 12 games in a row against the AL Central with a weekend series in Detroit against the Tigers.
Toronto is 6-3 against the Central during the stretch.
Here’s a look at the Blue Jays-Tigers series.
PROBABLE PITCHERS
• Friday, 7:10 p.m. ET / 4:10 p.m. PT (Sportsnet): Toronto RHP Jose Berrios (4-2 5.24 ERA) vs. Detroit RHP Elvin Rodriguez (0-1, 10:13 ERA)
• Saturday, 4:10 p.m. ET / 1:10 p.m. PT (Sportsnet ONE): Toronto RHP Kevin Gausman (5-4, 2.78 ERA) vs. Detroit RHP Beau Brieske (0-5, 4.93 ERA)
• Sunday, 1:10 p.m. ET / 10:10 a.m. PT (Sportsnet): Toronto RHP Ross Stripling (2-1, 3.65 ERA) vs. Detroit LHP Tarik Skubal (5-2, 2.33 ERA)
LATEST ON THE BLUE JAYS
The good news for the Blue Jays (33-23) is they had an off day Thursday. It was needed after starter Yusei Kikuchi did not get out of the first inning in an 8-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday, forcing the Blue Jays to use almost all of their bullpen.
Toronto managed to make a game of it, tying it at 3-3 before slumping reliever Trevor Richards couldn’t hold the Royals down.
Still, the Blue Jays took two of three from the last-place Royals in Kansas City – putting Toronto back in the series win column after dropping two of three against the Minnesota Twins at Rogers Centre.
And even though there have been some pitching problems (with Kikuchi and Kevin Gausman struggling in their last starts), the bats are heating up. Bo Bichette (seven hits and four walks in his past five games) and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (four home runs in June) have been good recently and Alejandro Kirk (.322/.401/477 on the season) continues to be the team’s most consistent hitter.
ALL EYES ON MORENO
The Blue Jays will call up top prospect Gabriel Moreno for the first time, so the spotlight will be on the catcher.
Another possible storyline is the return of left-handed reliever Tim Mayza, who had a rehab appearance with triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday. With the Blue Jays righty heavy in the bullpen, Mayza (forearm inflammation) is a very important player.
LATEST ON THE TIGERS
The Tigers (23-33) return home after recording a mini-sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The legendary Miguel Cabrera recorded the big hit in the finale, a run-scoring single in the eighth to break a 1-1 tie.
The Tigers went on to win 3-1. Cabrera, 39, is hitting .346 since May 22. He notched his 3,000th career hit earlier in the year.
Overall, though, it’s been another tough year for Tigers fans, who haven’t seen their team in the playoffs since 2014.
With the Blue Jays making a weekend visit, expect thousands of Toronto fans to make the trip to beautiful Comerica Park — it’s a shame that the teams don’t play more often against each other.
WORDS OF WISDOM
“It’s 3,000-plus hits. He’s incredible with those big moments. He doesn’t try to do too much. He hits the ball hard and got rewarded for it. He’s an incredible hitter to this day because he plays the game.”
— Tigers manager A.J. Hinch on Cabrera.
BACK TO BERRIOS
Jose Berrios, Friday’s starter, is coming off a nice bounce-back performance – a career-high 13 strikeouts in a 12-3 win over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday.
Last time out in Detroit, he struck out 11 and walked none in a 2-1 win over the Tigers last August.
FAMILIAR NAME
Second baseman Kody Clemens, son of Roger, was called up by the Tigers last month. He’s still looking for his first major-league hit after 15 at-bats.
TOUGH TIMES
Shortstop Javier Baez, who signed a six-year, $140 million deal with the Tigers in the off-season, hasn’t found his top form in Detroit.
Making the transition to the American League after seven-plus years with the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets, Baez is hitting .200 with three homers and 15 RBI this season.
UP NEXT
The Blue Jays return home for four games against the Baltimore Orioles followed by a big weekend three-gamer against the AL-leading New York Yankees.
