Mariners at Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are showcasing some major power of late and will try to mash their way to another series win when they host the Seattle Mariners on Saturday in the second of a three-game set. Four Blue Jays went deep in Friday's 7-3 win, giving Toronto 36 home runs in 15 games this month, including four contests with at least four homers.
Star rookie Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had a two-run shot and Randal Grichuk launched a solo blast for his fifth home run in a nine-game span for the Blue Jays. Catcher Danny Jansen also homered Friday for Toronto and is 7-for-17 with three home runs over his last five contests. The hot-hitting Jays, who have won 12 of their last 18, will see a host of Seattle pitchers Saturday as the visitors plan to utilize a bullpen day. Rookie Trent Thornton gets the nod for Toronto.
TV: 3:07 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports Northwest (Seattle), TVA Sports, Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RHP Reggie McClain (0-0, 4.50) vs. Blue Jays RH Trent Thornton (4-8, 5.34)
McClain will be making his fourth appearance for Seattle since being brought up from Triple-A Tacoma on Aug. 2. He spun three scoreless innings against Tampa Bay last Saturday and had two scoreless at Detroit on Wednesday. The rest of the bullpen is well-rested after Wade LeBlanc ate up seven innings in Friday's loss.
Thornton has been swapping solid starts with poor ones over the past few weeks and he rebounded from a rocky outing two turns ago to spin six outstanding innings against the New York Yankees on Sunday. The 25-year-old limited the Yankees to one run and three hits while striking out six, although he was saddled with a loss in a 1-0 final. He will be facing the Mariners for the first time.
WALK-OFFS
1. Blue Jays rookie SS Bo Bichette is 1-for-12 with six strikeouts over his last three games after hitting .394 through his first 15 contests.
2. Mariners LF Tim Lopes has seven RBIs over a nine-game stretch.
3. Toronto is 12-11 against American League West opponents and 40-62 versus all others.