It’s been a tough go of it thus far in Chavez Ravine for the Toronto Blue Jays, who are looking to avoid being swept for the fifth time this season on Sunday afternoon.
Thankfully, to avoid the sweep, the Blue Jays will turn to one of their most consistent starters this season in Eric Lauer. The 30-year-old southpaw has exceeded any and all expectations after signing a minor league deal with Toronto this offseason, posting a 2.59 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 8.9 K/9, and a career-low 0.9 HR/9 through 18 appearances this season.
The Blue Jays have a 13-5 record in games in which Lauer has appeared, and among his 12 starts, only two of them have included giving up more than two earned runs. Lauer has pitched nearly two times as many innings on the road this season as he has at home, but his stats are just as good in either condition.
He’s faced the Dodgers 12 times in his career during his time with the Padres and Brewers, logging a 2.63 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over 68 1.3 innings. The Dodgers look a little different since the last time he’s opposed them, though, and today will be the first time he will pitch against Shohei Ohtani and Andy Pages. Furthermore, despite being lefties, Max Muncy (5-for-20, 2 HR) and Michael Conforto (4-for-6, 1 HR) have thrived against Lauer in previous meetings, although Conforto isn’t in this afternoon’s lineup.
The Blue Jays will be opposed by a familiar foe in Tyler Glasnow, who pitched in Tampa Bay from 2018 to 2023. Glasnow has been limited to 10 starts this season after missing over two months with shoulder inflammation, but he’s still owned a solid 3.06 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 10.7 K/9 over 47 innings. Conversely, Glasnow has also sported his highest walk rate since he was a Pittsburgh Pirate in 2017, and opponents are hitting .321 with a .643 slugging percentage against his slider.
Glasnow faced the Blue Jays last season in Toronto, going six innings and allowing two hits, one earned run, and nine strikeouts. The one earned run was an RBI double from Davis Schneider, the last hitter that Glasnow faced in that game. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has had the most success against Glasnow in his career, going 5-for-14 with a double, a home run, and four walks. Also, as an interesting side note, Max Scherzer has a hit against Glasnow in his career.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (12)
Opponent: Tampa Bay Rays
Pitcher: Tyler Glasnow
Date: 5/21/21 pic.twitter.com/ru2phr04WM— TOR Home Runs (@TOR__HR) February 9, 2023
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Looking at today’s lineup for the Blue Jays, Joey Loperfido will make his first start since last Tuesday after being hit in the knee by a pitch in Colorado. After a couple of days of rest, Loperfido pinch-hit in each of the first two games of this series. Ty France hits in the fifth spot today for Toronto. Since being acquired by the Blue Jays at the trade deadline, he is riding a 9-for-24 line at the plate, which includes four doubles. Daulton Varsho will start all three of this weekend’s games and patrol centre field this afternoon.
Location: Dodger Stadium – Los Angeles, CA
First Pitch: 4:10 PM EST
Watch/Listen: Sportsnet / Sportsnet 590 The Fan
Starting Pitchers
Toronto Blue Jays – Eric Lauer: 7-2 record, 2.59 ERA, 80 IP, 79 SO, 18 BB
Los Angeles Dodgers – Tyler Glasnow: 1-1 record, 3.06 ERA, 47 IP, 56 SO, 23 BB
Lineups:
Blue Jays:
- Nathan Lukes – RF
- Bo Bichette – SS
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 1B
- Addison Barger – 3B
- Ty France – DH
- Daulton Varsho – CF
- Ernie Clement – 2B
- Joey Loperfido – LF
- Tyler Heineman – C
Dodgers:
- Shohei Ohtani – DH
- Mookie Betts – SS
- Will Smith – C
- Freddie Freeman – 1B
- Teoscar Hernández – RF
- Andy Pages – CF
- Max Muncy – 3B
- Miguel Rojas – 2B
- Alex Call – CF