AL playoff contenders will continue a four-game series on Saturday evening at Target Field with the Toronto Blue Jays visiting the Minnesota Twins. This series is even at one win apiece after Minnesota took Friday's contest by a 6-5 final over 10 innings to cash in as a +109 underdog. Toronto holds the top AL Wild Card spot at 59-47, while the Twins are in first place in the AL Central at 56-50.
These teams met in Toronto back in early June, with the Twins taking two of three on the road.
The Blue Jays have been one of the hottest teams in the Majors lately, but couldn't keep it going on Friday in a dramatic loss to the Twins. After falling behind 5-0, Toronto finally got going with a Matt Chapman solo shot in the fifth before Santiago Espinal and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. both went deep the next inning and Ramiel Tapia later tied things with a two-run single in the ninth, yet it still wasn't enough to prevail in extras.
Jose Berrios had a rough outing, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks over 3.2 innings, striking out just one. Jordan Romano took the loss, although he didn't give up a hit or a walk and the run was unearned. Guerrero Jr. was on base three times, while new acquisition Whit Merrifield had a two-hit game.
Despite the strong record, Toronto is down a significant amount on the money line for the season while going ust 49-57 on the r un line. Overs are 55-50-1 for the Blue Jays, with their last two games both going over the betting total following a long run of unders.
This offense has surged all the way into the top three in scoring at 4.85 runs per game for the season on a .765 OPS, also third-best in the Majors. The pitching isn't as good but still above average at a 3.88 combined ERA including a mark of 3.88 from a bullpen that got some reinforcements at the trade deadline.
Alejandro Kirk is a breakout star, batting .303/.387/.467 with 12 homers and 40 RBI. Guerrero Jr. continues to mash baseballs, posting an .867 OPS with 23 homers and 67 driven in.
Mitch White, who was acquired in a trade deadline deal, will make his first start in a Toronto uniform after most recently pitching on July 26 as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing two runs on nine hits over six innings against the Washington Nationals, striking out four. The 27- year-old has looked promising in 15 appearances including 10 starts overall, going 1-2 with a 3.70 ERA across 56 innings of work.
Every position player for the Blue Jays is healthy, but starting pitchers Nate Pearson (mononucleosis), Hyun Jin Ryu (Tommy John surgery) and Ross Stripling (strained glute) are out. Relievers Taylor Saucedo (hip discomfort) and Julian Merryweather (strained oblique) are sidelined.