The Cleveland Cavaliers will host the Toronto Blue Jays for game two of their four-game set this Tuesday from Progressive Field. Toronto scored in the final two innings to take game one, 3-1.
Blue Jays Preview & Projected Starter
Toronto enters at 64-50 after defeating Cleveland. The Blue Jays used timely hitting to escape with the series opening victory last night, and they’ll look to win their fifth straight game on Tuesday. The Toronto offense is scoring 4.85 runs per game, while batting .262, with a .331 on-base percentage. The pitching staff carries a 3.80 ERA, with a 1.26 WHIP.
Yusei Kikuchi (9-3, 3.79 ERA, 119 Ks) will get the call for Toronto. The fifth-year lefty pitched another solid outing in division action versus Baltimore last week, holding them to one run over six innings to earn his second straight win. Kikuchi has returned from the break in great form, allowing just three runs combined over his last four starts. Kikuchi has struck out eight in his last two road spots against the Dodgers and Mariners, and he’ll attempt to keep this stretch of play going Tuesday.
Blue Jays Player Trends & Props
• Vlad Guerrero Jr. has doubled in two of the last three games, and he leads Toronto in RBI (69), with eighteen homers.
• Matt Chapman plated three runs in the series finale win over Boston, and he’s posting splits of .256/15/49 for the season.
• Whit Merrifield has reached base in seven of his last nine games, and he’s batting .293, with ten home runs and 52 RBI.
• George Springer has produced a run in four of the last six games, and he’s posting a line of .255/13/45.
Guardians Preview & Projected Starter
Cleveland moved to 54-59 after falling to Toronto. The Guardians sold at the deadline, and their play here in August is starting to put the writing on the wall, as they’ve dropped five of six to open the month. The Cleveland offense is scoring 3.98 runs per game, while batting .253, with a .316 on-base percentage. The pitching staff carries a 3.83 ERA, with a 1.26 WHIP.
Tanner Bibee (7-2, 3.11 ERA, 91 Ks) will get the call for Cleveland. The rookie righty held his own in Houston last week, holding them to two runs through five innings pitched. Bibee has been reliable ever since debuting in late April, and his efforts have kept the Guardians afloat with the subtractions of Shane Bieber and Stick McKenzie to injury, and Aaron Civale via trade. Bibee has held teams to one run or less in seven of his first eight home spots, and he’ll look to keep the Jays under control here in game two.
Guardians Player Trends & Props
• Jose Ramirez will miss this contest, and with Josh Naylor also on the shelf, the Guardians will be shorthanded this week.
• Steven Kwan has collected a hit in six of the last nine games, and he’s tied with JRam for the team-lead in hits (122), while batting .271.
• Andrés Giménez has reached base in four of the last five games, and he’s posting a line of .236/10/42.
Corey’s Free Pick
Toronto snuck out of game one with a victory, and with Cleveland coming into this contest severely shorthanded, I think their poor stretch of play continues. Now, with Tanner Bibee set to go at home, the Guardians may stick around in this one, but the Blue Jays should be able to find a way to win their fifth straight game. Give the Under a look, but back Toronto for game two here.
AUTHOR: Corey Ghee
Mitch's Take...
