Blue Jays Series Preview: Anthopoulos’ Braves overcoming key injuries

After a roller-coaster highway swing, the Toronto Blue Jays return to Rogers Centre for a 10-game homestand in opposition to stiff competitors. 

The problem kicks off this weekend with three video games in opposition to former the National League-leading Atlanta Braves, who’re in search of a sixth consecutive playoff look below former Blue Jays normal supervisor Alex Anthopoulos. 

The Blue Jays are coming off a 3-6 highway journey with sweeps in all three sequence – three wins over the Pittsburgh Pirates had been sandwiched by 4 losses to the Boston Red Sox and two defeats in opposition to the Philadelphia Phillies. 

The sequence opener in opposition to the Braves on Friday begins a stretch of 17 video games with out an off-day for Toronto. 

Here’s a take a look at the Braves-Blue Jays sequence. 

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Probable Pitchers 

Friday, 7:07 p.m. ET / 4:07 p.m. PT: Toronto RHP Chris Bassitt (4-2, 4.28 ERA) vs. Atlanta RHP Spencer Strider (4-0, 2.70 ERA) 

Saturday, 3:07 p.m. ET / 12:07 p.m. PT: Toronto RHP Jose Berrios (3-3, 4.91 ERA) vs. Atlanta RHP Bryce Elder (3-0, 1.74 ERA) 

Sunday, 1:37 p.m. ET / 10:37 a.m. PT: Toronto LHP Yusei Kikuchi (4-0, 4.02 ERA) vs. Atlanta TBD 

All video games on Sportsnet ONE and SN NOW. 

Latest on the Blue Jays 

Streaky is one of the best ways to explain the Blue Jays (21-16) just lately. 

The up-and-down highway journey got here on the heels of a 5-1 homestand – with the one loss beginning a five-game dropping streak. 

During the six losses in Boston and Philadelphia, the Blue Jays simply couldn’t appear to get the complete operation clicking. 

Take Wednesday’s sequence finale in Philly – a 2-1 loss in 10 innings. Kevin Gausman pitched six shutout innings, however the offence couldn’t do a lot in opposition to Zack Wheeler. Closer Jordan Romano gave up the tying run within the ninth earlier than Bo Bichette’s wild throw on a what ought to have been an inning-ending double play within the tenth gave the Phillies the win. 

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The bullpen continues to be a priority. The relievers didn’t lock down the Phillies in Tuesday’s 8-4 loss after one other shaky begin for Alek Manoah. 

The Blue Jays are fourth within the AL East, eight video games again of the MLB-leading Tampa Bay Rays. They maintain down the third and closing wild-card place, one sport up on the New York Yankees. 

Latest on the Braves 

The Braves (25-12) haven’t misplaced any of their previous 5 sequence, regardless of a rising damage listing. 

This marks their third consecutive sequence in opposition to an AL East crew after they took two of three from the Baltimore Orioles and break up a pair in opposition to the Red Sox. 

Because of all of the accidents, the Braves went with a bullpen day on Wednesday and misplaced 5-2 to Boston. 

Atlanta used eight relievers, hanging robust earlier than in the end taking the loss. 

About these Injuries 

The Braves probably are going to be lacking two of their high starters – Max Fried (forearm) and Kyle Wright (shoulder) – till after the all-star break.  

Fried and Wright mixed to go 35-12 with a 2.83 ERA final 12 months when the Braves misplaced within the NLDS to the Phillies after profitable the World Series the earlier 12 months. 

The good news for Atlanta is Strider (tied for the MLB strikeout lead with Gausman), Elder (tied for first in NL ERA) and Charlie Morton are giving the Braves glorious begins on a constant foundation. 

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But there are holes, beginning Sunday, the place the Braves probably are taking a look at a triple-A callup or a bullpen day 

Calgary’s Michael Soroka, who hasn’t pitched within the majors since struggling a torn Achilles in 2020, may determine into the combination sooner or later. The 2019 NL rookie of the 12 months is now at triple-A Gwinnett. 

The Braves have the very best OPS within the NL, which ought to assist a few of their depth starters. 

No Homecoming for Anthopoulos 

The Montreal-born Anthopoulos, who has seen the Braves win the NL East in all 5 of his earlier years as Atlanta’s GM, informed Blair and Barker on Thursday he received’t be making the journey to Toronto. But he isn’t the one member of his group with Toronto ties. 

Another standard ex-Jay, outfielder Kevin Pillar, additionally makes his return. Pillar signed a minor-league contract with the Braves this low season after which made the opening-day roster. Since Toronto traded Pillar to San Francisco in 2019, he has has performed for the Giants, Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers. 

A backup in Atlanta, Pillar hit his a hundredth profession homer final week. 

The Braves even have former Blue Jays catching prospect Travis d’Arnaud, who by no means really performed for Toronto. The Blue Jays acquired d’Arnaud within the Roy Halladay take care of Philadelphia in 2010 after which traded him to the Mets within the R.A. Dickey deal in 2012. 

D’Arnaud is the backup to Sean Murphy, who is also enjoying at an MVP candidate degree after being acquired in a commerce with the Oakland Athletics this low season. 

Monster Shot 

Braves slugger Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a 470-foot homer in opposition to the Red Sox on Wednesday. 

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The outfielder has 4 homers of 470 or extra toes since his 2018 rookie season, tied for second most in MLB. 

Slashing .347 (high batting common within the NL)/.438/.576 with seven homers and 22 RBI, Acuna is a transparent NL MVP candidate. 

Home Sweet Home 

The Blue Jays have performed an MLB-low 12 video games at house as they had been pressured on the highway for 10 video games to start out the season whereas Rogers Centre renovations completed. 

Toronto is a formidable 9-3 at house. 

The Braves, nevertheless, are an MLB-best 15-3 on the highway. 

Rival Reunion 

The 1992 World Series foes didn’t sq. off final 12 months. 

Toronto really went 6-0 in opposition to Atlanta within the Braves’ 2021 World Series marketing campaign, sweeping two sequence in May. The Braves had been one sport below .500 after July earlier than going 18-8 in August that 12 months to start out their run to the title. 

Up Next 

The Blue Jays return to AL East competitors with 4 video games in opposition to the Yankees after which three in opposition to the Orioles at Rogers Centre. 

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