The Blue Jays open their final homestand of the season with a three-game set against the still-alive Boston Red Sox.
While the Jays are the only American League team to have clinched a playoff spot, they’re still fighting for the AL East crown and top seed, while the Red Sox are fighting for their playoff lives.
Series preview
The Jays have had the Red Sox’s number this season, winning seven of 10 including their first walk-off victory of the year, when Alejandro Kirk’s bases-loaded single cashed Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 10th inning on April 30聽鈥 the聽exclamation point on a massive comeback after the Jays trailed 6-0 going into the bottom of the sixth inning. At the time, it got the Jays to 14-16. They’re 76-50 since.
- The Red Sox arrive clinging to the second wild card in the AL and while there are three of those, two teams are hot on their heels. The Cleveland Guardians and Houston Astros are just a game behind with six to play. Boston took two of three in Tampa over the weekend, after a 2-4 homestand in which they lost three-game series to the Athletics and New York Yankees.
- The Red Sox are the only AL team with three pitchers who have made at least 20 starts and have an ERA under 3.50, and the Jays will see all three.
- Cy Young contender Garrett Crochet is set to throw the middle game. The left-hander has faced the Jays twice this season, both in April, allowing three earned runs in 12 2/3 innings. The Jays handed him one of his five losses this season.聽
- Shane Bieber, scheduled to start the series finale for the Jays, hasn’t faced Boston since June 6, 2023, when he held them to one run on five hits over 5 1/3 innings in an eventual 5-4 Cleveland loss.
- Boston is without star rookie Roman Anthony. The 21-year-old outfielder was hitting .292 with an .859 OPS when he went down in early September with an oblique strain. The Jays, of course, are still missing shortstop Bo Bichette, but are expected to activate outfielder/DH Anthony Santander, out since May 30 with a shoulder injury.
Game time, TV, probable pitchers
Tuesday, 7 p.m. on Sportsnet: RH Kevin Gausman (10-10, 3.38 ERA) vs. RH Lucas Giolito (10-4, 3.46)
Wednesday, 7 p.m. on Sportsnet: RH Max Scherzer (5-4, 5.06) vs. LH Garrett Crochet (17-5, 2.69)
Thursday, 7 p.m. on Sportsnet: RH Shane Bieber (3-2, 3.57) vs. RH Brayan Bello (11-8, 3.34)
Looking ahead
The Jays finish the regular season with three games at the Rogers Centre against the Rays starting Friday, and will hope to have whittled their magic number down to one or two by then. If they clinch the division before the final day, expect Alek Manoah to pitch in the last game.
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