Series Preview: Blue Jays look to end offensive struggles vs. Cubs

Baseball

Published 11.08.2023

Series Preview: Blue Jays look to end offensive struggles vs. Cubs

The Toronto Blue Jays will look to get the bats going once more after they host the Chicago Cubs this weekend at Rogers Centre.

Toronto scored a grand complete of seven runs in a four-game collection in Cleveland towards the Guardians, although nonetheless managed a cut up due to principally glorious beginning pitching.

Hitting with runners in scoring place, a season-long drawback, was within the highlight but once more.

The Blue Jays had 32 hits in 4 video games and simply couldn’t discover a strategy to rating sufficient.

This collection wraps up 17 video games in 17 days for the Blue Jays.

Here’s a have a look at the Blue Jays-Cubs collection.

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Probable Pitchers

Friday, 7:07 p.m. / 4:07 p.m. PT, Apple TV+, Sportsnet 590 The Fan: Toronto RHP Jose Berrios (9-7, 3.38 ERA) vs. Chicago RHP Javier Assad (1-2, 3.35 ERA)

Saturday, 3:07 p.m. ET / 12:07 p.m. PT, Sportsnet, SN NOW: Toronto RHP Chris Bassitt (11-6, 3.87 ERA) vs. Chicago LHP Justin Steele (13-3, 2.68 ERA)

Sunday, 1:37 p.m. ET / 10:37 a.m. ET, Sportsnet, SN NOW: Toronto LHP Hyun Jin Ryu (0-1, 4.00 ERA) vs. Chicago RHP Jameson Taillon (7-6, 5.17 ERA)

Latest on the Blue Jays

The Blue Jays (65-52) went 5-2 on their highway journey via Boston and Cleveland, however discover themselves simply 1.5 video games forward of the red-hot Seattle Mariners within the race for the ultimate wild-card spot within the American League.

The Mariners have received seven in a row to place the warmth on Toronto.

The Blue Jays misplaced 4-3 within the collection finale in Cleveland on Thursday.

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Toronto reduce Cleveland’s 4-1 result in one run within the seventh earlier than issues unravelled. George Springer was ejected after he struck out on a low pitch, and supervisor John Schneider was additionally tossed when he joined the argument.

Alejandro Kirk popped up and Davis Schneider struck out to finish the risk.

Latest on the Cubs

The Cubs (59-56) are again within the playoff combine, only a few weeks after some puzzled in the event that they’d be a vendor on the commerce deadline.

Chicago has received 16 of its final 22. The Cubs are a half-game again of the Miami Marlins for the National League’s last wild-card spot and a couple of.5 video games behind the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers.

The Cubs did quiet down earlier than an off-day Thursday, shedding two of three towards the New York Mets.

Chicago loaded the bases within the ninth inning of the collection finale on Wednesday however couldn’t money within the tying run and misplaced 4-3.

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Strong Arms

The Blue Jays now lead the majors with a crew ERA of three.72.

Welcome Back

Reliever Julian Merryweather, acquired by the Blue Jays within the commerce sending Josh Donaldson to Cleveland in 2018, returns to Rogers Centre for the primary time since he was designated for task by Toronto and claimed by the Cubs in January.

After battling accidents for a lot of his time in Toronto, Merryweather has made a career-high 50 appearances this yr. He has given up only one run in his previous 8.2 innings.

Blue Jays nice Jose Bautista joins the Level of Excellence on Sportsnet

The Toronto Blue Jays will add star slugger Jose Bautista to the Level of Excellence forward of Saturday’s recreation towards the Chicago Cubs. Full protection begins at 2:30 p.m. ET/ 11:30 a.m. PT with a particular version of Blue Jays Central, adopted by the ceremony and the sport all on Sportsnet and SN NOW.

Watch on SN NOW

Bautista set to take rightful place on Blue Jays’ Level of Excellence

Catcher Yan Gomes, a Blue Jays draft choose who made his MLB debut with Toronto in 2012, is finishing a two-year contract with the Cubs.

No Stro Show

Cubs right-hander and former Blue Jay Marcus Stroman is sidelined with proper hip irritation.

Stroman threw a 40-pitch bullpen session earlier this week as he makes an attempt to make his manner again to the roster.

Stroman is 1-4 with a 9.00 ERA in his previous seven begins after a powerful begin to the season.

Man of Steele

Steele, Saturday’s starter for the Cubs, is tied for the MLB lead in wins and is second in ERA. The 28-year-old was a first-time All-Star this yr.

2022 Season Series

The Blue Jays took two of three from the visiting Cubs final August. All the video games had been determined by two or fewer runs.

Out of Town

The Mariners host the AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles in probably the most fascinating out-of-town collection for Blue Jays followers. Baltimore is seven video games up on Toronto.

The Houston Astros, 1.5 video games forward of Toronto for second within the wild-card race, entertain the Los Angeles Angels.

The Tampa Bay Rays, 4 video games forward of Toronto for first within the wild-card race, host the Guardians.

Up Next

The Blue Jays host Canadian-born supervisor Rob Thomson and the reigning NL champion Philadelphia Phillies in a two-game collection, beginning Tuesday.