The Boston Red Sox (60-62) will host the Toronto Blue Jays (65-55) on Tuesday in the opening contest in a three-game series. The Blue Jays have dominated the season series up to this point, winning 10 of the 13 head-to-head games. Both of these teams were off on Monday.
The Toronto Blue Jays are half-a-game behind the Rays for the top AL Wild Card spot and tied with the Mariners. The Blue Jays saw their four-game winning streak snapped on Sunday in an intense 4-2 loss against the New York Yankees. Whit Merrifield hit his seventh home run of the season, but his first home run as a Blue Jay in the loss.
The Toronto lineup is deep, ranking sixth in MLB averaging 4.8 runs per game, second with a .262 batting average, and seventh with 151 home runs. Firstbasemen Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (26 HR, 75 RBI) and catcher Alejandro Kirk (.300 AVG, 12 HR, 47 RBI) are both tied for a team-leading 3.6 WAR.
?? @Alejandro_Kirk ??
He leads AL Catchers in…
?? Average (.300)
?? OBP (.379)
?? SLG (.450)
?? OPS (.829)
?? Hits (106)
?? wRC+ (140) pic.twitter.com/Lg1UDcWDw7— Toronto Blue J ays (@BlueJays) August 23, 2022
Ross Stripling (5-3, 2.93 ERA) will make the start against the Red Sox Tuesday. Toronto has won two of three starts against Boston that Stripling has made this season, and he has a 3.21 ERA in those games. In 10 road appearances, Stripling is 3-1 with a 3.32 ERA