The Toronto Blue Jays will look to keep their winning ways going at the Rogers Centre after taking the final contest of their three-game series against the Red Sox last night. The Jays have struggled as of late to hold off their AL East rivals, with the Yankees tied with Toronto at the top of the AL East standings, although the Blue Jays have the tiebreaker over the Bronx Bombers.
Right-hander Shane Bieber will be leading the Blue Jays tonight, with the former Guardian being pushed back a day to make this start against the Tampa Bay Rays instead of last night against Boston. Through six starts and 35 1/3 innings, Bieber owns a 3.57 ERA and a 3.93 FIP to the tune of a 0.962 WHIP. The 30-year-old has struck out four or more batters in each of his starts and has allowed just five walks this year, good for a 1.3 BB/9, and has allowed two or fewer earned runs in four of those outings as well.
Similar to the rest of the Jays’ rotation, Bieber has experienced some struggles with the long ball, allowing six roundtrippers since coming off the IL in August. The Blue Jays have won four of Bieber’s six starts, with the veteran arm boasting a 3-2 record. He has not faced the Rays yet this season.
THREE games remain.
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Heading to the mound for the Rays is right-hander Adrian Houser, who will make his 10th start with the club since being acquired at the trade deadline for two prospects and infielder Curtis Mead.
The former White Sox hurler has struggled since moving into the AL East, allowing 53 hits and 26 earned runs through 50 1/3 innings. This works to a 4.65 ERA and a 4.35 FIP, which is an uptick from the 2.10 ERA and 3.34 FIP he generated with Chicago through 68 2/3 innings before the trade.
A groundball pitcher by trade, Houser uses his sinker 46% of the time to help generate a 50.6% groundball rate post-trade, evidenced by the 5-degree launch angle. He owns a 6.6 K/9 on the year and commands the zone with his 2.7 BB/9. On top of his sinker, Houser also works with a changeup, slider, curveball, and four-seamer, with his fastball pitches sitting in the mid-90s range.
Houser has faced the Blue Jays twice this season as a member of the White Sox and dominated Toronto across both outings, allowing just three earned runs across 13 1/3 innings collectively. The Jays have strung together 14 hits and five walks across both starts, but failed to capitalize as he would help lead his team to victory both times.
This will be the last City Connect Friday contest for the Blue Jays, with the regular season coming to a close. This game will also be featured on Apple TV and not on Sportsnet, although the radio broadcast with still be through 590 The Fan.
Location: Rogers Centre – Toronto, Canada
First Pitch: 7:07 PM EST
Watch/Listen: Apple TV+ / Sportsnet 590 The Fan
Starting Pitchers
Toronto Blue Jays – Shane Bieber: 3-2 record, 3.57 ERA, 35 1/3 IP, 34 SO, 5 BB
Tampa Bay Rays – Adrian Houser: 8-4 record, 3.18 ERA, 119 IP, 87 SO, 36 BB
Lineups:
Blue Jays:
- George Springer – DH
- Nathan Lukes – RF
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 1B
- Addison Barger – 3B
- Alejandro Kirk – C
- Daulton Varsho – CF
- Anthony Santander – LF
- Ernie Clement – 2B
- Andres Gimenez – SS
Rays:
- Chandler Simpson – CF
- Yandy Diaz – DH
- Brandon Lowe – 2B
- Junior Caminero – 3B
- Jonathan Aranda – 1B
- Jake Magnum – LF
- Josh Lowe – RF
- Carson Williams – SS
- Hunter Feduccia – C