Using excessive from their late rally previous the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon, the Toronto Blue Jays will hope a few of that momentum carries over.
They’re going to take the sector Sunday (Sportsnet, 2:20 p.m. ET / 11:20 a.m. PT) for the rubber match towards the Cubs as they search for their second straight series win and a return to a .500 report.
Taking the mound for the Blue Jays (38-39) shall be Dylan Cease, who’s been their greatest pitcher this season as he leads the American League with 110 strikeouts.
Cease is coming off a strong outing in Boston on Tuesday, incomes the win after pitching 5 innings of shutout ball whereas putting out seven and strolling 4. That consequence introduced his season-long ERA to 2.71, with a 1.192 WHIP.
That stroll quantity shall be one thing to look at for towards the Cubs (40-37), as Cease has by no means been vaunted for his potential to stop free passes, and Chicago has made its cash getting on base, main MLB with 338 free passes.
Within the first two video games of the series — a 16-2 win on Friday and an 8-6 loss on Saturday — the Cubs have taken their time with their at-bats, drawing 18 walks mixed.
A powerful begin from Cease could be doubly useful for the Blue Jays, who’ve leaned closely on their bullpen this series. Friday’s blowout loss compelled the often dependable Kevin Gausman out of the sport after solely six outs, whereas Patrick Corbin lasted solely 3.2 innings in Saturday’s win. Lazaro Estrada carried the load with 2.1 innings of labor out of the bullpen, and Louis Varland pitched two innings to earn his fifteenth save of the season.
What would profit the Blue Jays much more, nonetheless, is a continued energy surge. Toronto saved its comeback for late on Saturday, with Daulton Varsho sparking the rally with a three-run blast within the seventh inning in his return after greater than per week sidelined with a wrist harm.
Then, within the following inning, the Blue Jays almost batted across the order as they plated 5 runs, capped by a three-run shot from Kazuma Okamoto — his sixteenth of the 12 months — to take the lead after being down 5-0 heading into the seventh.
Making an attempt to stymy Toronto’s momentum shall be Shota Imanaga, who heads into Sunday’s showdown with a 4.26 ERA and 1.062 WHIP.
The 32-year-old Japanese lefty has struggled mightily with the longball this season, with a 1.8 HR/9 over his 15 begins. Although he hasn’t been tagged for a house run in his final two begins, he gave up 10 mixed within the three earlier.
Imanaga has solely made one begin in his three-year MLB profession towards the Blue Jays in 2024, when he gave up one run — a homer to Joey Loperfido — and struck out six in a 1-0 loss.
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