Braves at Blue Jays
All Bo Bichette has done since being promoted to the Toronto Blue Jays is hit, and the 21-year-old shortstop hopes to continue swinging a hot bat entering Tuesday’s opener of a two-game home series against the Atlanta Braves. Bichette went 8-for-14 with four runs scored in a three-game series at Seattle last weekend and his 2-for-4 performance in Sunday’s loss gave him 15 multi-hit performances in his first 26 career contests while batting .351 with 14 doubles and 14 RBIs.
Bichette’s work at the plate has not been enough to reverse the Blue Jays recent struggles, as Toronto finished 1-5 on its six-game west-coast road trip and recorded their 26th outing this season scoring one run or fewer in the finale. Now the Blue Jays host the National League East-leading Braves, whose eight-game winning streak ended Monday with a 3-1 loss in a makeup game at Colorado that trimmed their division lead to 5 1/2 games over Washington. Newly-acquired catcher Francisco Cervelli finished 2-for-4 with a double, and in two games with the Braves is 5-for-9 with three doubles and three RBIs. Atlanta outfielder Matt Joyce snapped an 0-for-8 skid with two hits Monday, but Atlanta finished 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left nine on base.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Mike Soroka (10-2, 2.41 ERA) vs. Blue Jays TBD
Soroka looks to continue building his case for rookie of the year and Cy Young consideration, pitching to a 2.29 ERA with a .227 opponents batting average in his past six starts. The 22-year-old has not received a decision in any of those outings but has pitched seven innings four times in that span, including his last start Thursday against the New York Mets when he gave up two runs on five hits with no walks and five strikeouts. Soroka, who is third in the NL in ERA and eighth in WHIP (1.08), makes his first career appearance against Colorado.
The Blue Jays likely will use an opener for the fifth time in their past eight games, having deployed Wilmer Font three times in that span. Toronto could use right-hander Jacob Waguespack (4-1, 3.63 ERA), who pitched seven one-hit, shutout innings with one walk and five strikeouts against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday. Right-hander Trent Thornton (4-8, 5.34) gave up four runs (three earned) in four innings Friday at Seattle, but has not pitched on three days rest this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Toronto OF Billy McKinney is hitting .308 with a .948 OPS, two doubles and two homers in eight games this month.
2. Atlanta SS Dansby Swanson came off the disabled list (bruised right heel) on Monday, going 0-for-4.
3. Braves OF Ronald Acuna Jr. stole his 31st base of the season Monday, moving him within four homers and nine steals of a 40-40 season with 29 games remaining.