White Sox at Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays just needed a couple big swings and plenty of help from the bullpen to snap a five-game slide. The Blue Jays will try to save that bullpen and get some length out of the starter when they host the Chicago White Sox for the second of a three-game series on Saturday.
Toronto got a three-run homer from Randal Grichuk in the first inning before Teoscar Hernandez hit a solo blast in the second and managed to hang on for a 4-3 victory Friday behind seven relievers. The Blue Jays totaled three runs in their previous four games and still only scored in three of the last 37 innings but made the two big swings stand up on Friday as Joe Biagini and Ken Giles finished out the game by combining for 2 1/3 perfect innings. The White Sox are having their own problems at the plate with three or fewer runs scored in seven of the last eight games and fell to 2-6 in that span with Friday's setback. Chicago will try to find some support on Saturday for veteran right-hander Ivan Nova while the Blue Jays try to get some length out of ace righty Marcus Stroman.
TV: 3:07 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, Sportsnet, TVA (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Ivan Nova (1-3, 7.04 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Marcus Stroman (1-5, 2.96)
Nova bounced back from a pair of tough outings by scattering one run and eight hits over seven innings to earn a win at Cleveland on Monday. The Dominican Republic native, who served up a total of 14 runs and 20 hits - six homers - over 9 2/3 innings in his previous two turns, has yielded one run in three of his seven turns but allowed at least five earned runs in each of the other four outings. Nova began his career in the American League East with the New York Yankees and is 5-7 with a 5.66 ERA in 17 career games against Toronto.
Stroman finished April with a 1.43 ERA but was ripped for a total of 11 runs - nine earned - and 14 hits in eight total innings over his two starts in May. The Duke product served up a pair of home runs - his first two allowed this season - against Minnesota on Monday and struck out a season-low two across 4 2/3 innings while suffering a loss. Stroman won his lone start against Chicago last season, allowing two runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Blue Jays placed RHP Clay Buchholz (shoulder inflammation) on the 10-day injured list after scratching him from Friday's start.
2. White Sox 3B Yoan Moncada struck out at least once in each of his last 14 contests.
3. Toronto 1B Justin Smoak drew four walks on Friday and reached base safely in each of his last 13 games.