The Toronto Blue Jays and the Minnesota Twins wrap up their four-game series in Minnesota over the weekend on Sunday afternoon. The two teams are both vying for playoff spots in the American League as the Twins sit atop the AL Central Division while the Blue Jays sit atop the AL Wildcard standings. The pitching matchup for Sunday afternoon's finale will feature a pair of right-handers as the Blue Jays' Kevin Gausman (8-8, 3.06) takes on the Twins Chris Archer (2-5, 4.05). First pitch is scheduled for 210pm EST.
The Blue Jays strengthened their everyday lineup at the trade deadline and added a top-tier second baseman by trading for the Royals Whit Merrifield. The move signified to the Jays team that the front office is all in and ready to make a postseason run. Toronto currently holds the 3rd best record in the American League and are comfortably locked into a wildcard spot at the moment. On Friday night, after taking game one of this four-game series with Minnesota, the Jays blew an opportunity to be the third American League team to reach 60 wins after battling back from a 5-0 deficit to tie the game. In the 10th inning, the Blue Jays stranded the bases loaded and then allowed the winning run to score on an error by catcher Dan Jansen in the bottom of the 1oth. On Saturday, the Jays were just 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position and struck out 11 times on their way to a 7-3 defeat.
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The arrival of Merrifield comes at a crucial time for the Jays as their regular leadoff hitter, George Springer, remains out with elbow issues. Merrifield gives the Jays much needed speed and versatility to use anywhere in the lineup. In their last ten games, the Blue Jays are hitting .243 with 14 home runs and are averaging 4.6 runs per contest. On the mound for the Jays on Sunday will be lanky right-hander Kevin Gausman. Gausman is second on the Jays in ERA, quality starts and wins and leads the team in strikeouts. In the month of July, Gausman was just 1-2 in four starts with a 5.09 ERA. His last start, on August 2nd, was his best start of the season. Gausman went eight shutout innings and allowed just one hit while striking out ten batters in a 3-1 win over the Rays.