Tigers at Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are well out of contention in the American League at the midway point of the season, but they have managed to regain their mojo at the Rogers Centre. Toronto has won nine of its last 10 at home and looks to keep the momentum going in its four-game series against the fumbling Detroit Tigers on Saturday afternoon.
Justin Smoak ended a 20-game homerless drought with a two-run blast to put the Blue Jays ahead to stay in Friday's 3-2 victory. Toronto designated hitter Kendrys Morales has one hit in his last 11 at-bats, but he is 9-for-15 with a homer and seven RBIs against Tigers left-hander Matthew Boyd, who will oppose Toronto right-hander Sam Gaviglio. Detroit was within a game of .500 on June 17 after winning five it a row, but it has lost 10 straight - matching the team's longest skid since September 2003. Jeimer Candelario has two homers and four RBIs in four games against the Blue Jays this season after clubbing a solo shot Friday.
TV: 1:07 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, TVA, Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Matthew Boyd (4-6, 4.15 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Sam Gaviglio (2-2, 3.98)
Boyd lost his second straight abbreviated start on Sunday at Cleveland, lasting only three innings while giving up six runs and eight hits. He also labored in his previous turn at Cincinnati, surrendering a grand slam among six hits and allowing five runs in four innings. Boyd did not factor in the decision versus Toronto on June 2, giving up four runs and two homers over a season high-tying seven innings.
Gaviglio's winless drought reached five starts last time out after he gave up three runs and five hits over 4 2/3 innings of a no-decision at the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. It marked the third consecutive start that he failed to get through five innings, a stretch in which he's allowed 11 runs and 18 hits across 12 innings. Gaviglio pitched five innings of two-run ball in his lone start versus Detroit.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tigers DH Victor Martinez was 2-for-4 Friday but has gone 11 games without an RBI or extra-base hit.
2. Blue Jays RF Randal Grichuk is 6-for-17 during a four-game hitting streak.
3. The Tigers have scored two runs or fewer in six of their last eight games.