Sep 3, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) hits a double towards the Philadelphia Phillies through the eighth inning at Rogers Centre. Necessary Credit score: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Photos The visiting Toronto Blue Jays will attempt to proceed their dominance over Atlanta and derail the Braves’ playoff hopes when the groups open a three-game sequence on Friday.
The Blue Jays have received 9 consecutive video games towards the Braves, sweeping a three-game house sequence in 2023 after capturing all six conferences, three at every web site, in 2021.
The Braves (76-64) cannot afford a sustained skid in the event that they need to make the playoffs. They’re tied with the New York Mets for the ultimate Nationwide League wild-card spot. Atlanta simply received two of three towards the visiting Colorado Rockies however misplaced the sequence finale 3-1 on Thursday.
“It is simply irritating,” Braves supervisor Brian Snitker mentioned. “We could not rating. We simply could not get something going offensively. … I imply, we have been battling all 12 months, actually up and down and searching, ready for a run. You may see indicators of it, and we won’t get any toehold to maintain going. It is a disgrace as a result of the beginning pitching we’re getting is simply so good. We’ll flip the web page and get after it (Friday).”
The Blue Jays (67-74) are usually not within the playoff image and have misplaced three straight, together with each video games of a highway sequence towards the Philadelphia Phillies this week. Toronto didn’t play on Thursday.
Atlanta will ship left-hander Max Fried (8-8, 3.52 ERA) to the mound on Friday whereas Toronto will reply with right-hander Kevin Gausman (12-10, 4.07).
Gausman has allowed two or fewer runs in 4 of his previous 5 begins. In his newest outing, towards the Minnesota Twins on Aug. 30, he took the loss after permitting two runs on 4 hits and 4 walks with 4 strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Gausman fell to 1-5 with a 6.61 ERA towards the Twins.
“They’ve all the time type of been my Kryptonite, particularly the final couple of years,” Gausman mentioned. “For no matter motive, their lineup all the time type of provides me bother.”
Gausman has made two profession begins towards the Braves, compiling a 1.32 ERA in 13 2/3 innings with out a determination. He pitched for Atlanta in 2018 and 2019, going 8-10 with a 4.77 ERA in 26 begins.
Fried misplaced to the Phillies in his newest begin on Saturday, when he allowed three runs on 5 hits and 4 walks with 4 strikeouts over seven innings.
“Made some good pitches to some good hitters (who) made some good swings and hit the ball, and made some errors and possibly walked a pair guys that I want I hadn’t,” Fried mentioned.
Fried has made two profession begins towards Toronto, going 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA. He final confronted them in 2021.
The sequence options two of the most well liked hitters within the main leagues — Atlanta’s Marcell Ozuna and Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Because the All-Star break, Guerrero is batting .419 (67-for-160) with 19 doubles, one triple, 14 homers and 35 RBIs. Over that span, he leads the majors in hits, doubles, extra-base hits (34) and whole bases (130), slugging proportion (.813) and OPS (1.302). He had a four-hit sport towards Philadelphia on Tuesday.
The lone constant bat for Atlanta this season, Ozuna went 2-for-4 on Thursday and upped his batting common to .307, second within the Nationwide League. He additionally ranks second in house runs (37) and third in RBIs (98).
–Subject Stage Media
