Collection Preview: Blue Jays followers prepared for annual Seattle takeover

Western Canadian followers determine to be out in full drive for the Toronto Blue Jays‘ annual collection in Seattle this weekend.

The enjoyable has already began. Earlier this week, the Mariners’ group retailer showcased some Blue Jays merchandise, presumably to pique the curiosity of Canadian followers, earlier than Seattle gamers Paul Sewald and J.P. Crawford criticized the transfer.

The shop later eliminated the Blue Jays gear from outstanding show in photographs displayed by Twitter customers.

Nonetheless, it gained’t cease Blue Jays followers from doing their half to show Seattle into Toronto West.

Right here’s a take a look at the collection.

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Possible Pitchers

Friday, 10:10 p.m. ET / 7:10 p.m. PT: Toronto LHP Yusei Kikuchi (7-3, 4:13 ERA) vs. Seattle RHP Bryce Miller (6-3, 3.66 ERA)

Saturday, 4:10 p.m. ET / 1:10 p.m. PT: Toronto RHP Kevin Gausman (7-5, 3.03 ERA) vs. Seattle RHP Logan Gilbert (8-5, 3.65 ERA)

Sunday, 4:10 p.m. ET / 1:10 p.m. PT: Toronto RHP Alek Manoah (2-8, 6.18 ERA) vs. Seattle RHP Bryan Woo (1-2, 4.74 ERA)

All video games on Sportsnet and SN NOW.

Newest on the Blue Jays

The Blue Jays (54-43) prevented a three-game sweep by the hands of the San Diego Padres with a 4-0 win within the finale on Thursday at Rogers Centre.

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Chris Bassitt pitched six innings of shutout ball earlier than Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk gave the bullpen some respiration room with residence runs within the seventh and eighth inning, respectively.

Toronto managed simply six runs within the collection towards the Padres, which explains why the Blue Jays’ three-series win streak got here to an finish.

There was excellent news earlier than Thursday’s sport, too, because the Blue Jays confirmed Gausman could be good to go for Saturday after being sidelined for the reason that all-star break with left aspect discomfort. Gausman had 13 strikeouts towards the Mariners in April.

The Blue Jays are third within the AL East, 5.5 video games behind the front-running Baltimore Orioles. Toronto is tied with the Houston Astros for second within the wild-card race.

Newest on the Mariners

The Mariners (48-48) earned a break up of a four-game collection with the visiting Minnesota Twins with a 5-0 win on Thursday.

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All-star starter George Kirby matched his profession excessive with 10 strikeouts over seven innings.

Former Blue Jays outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, despatched to the Mariners within the low season commerce for reliever Erik Swanson, notched his team-leading sixteenth homer of the season for Seattle.

The commerce has helped each side. Swanson has been one of many higher relievers for an improved Toronto bullpen.

Total, it hasn’t been an incredible season for the Mariners, who will want a giant surge to make the playoffs after sweeping the Blue Jays in final yr’s wild-card collection.

The Mariners are fourth within the AL West, 9.5 video games behind the division-leading Texas Rangers. They’re additionally 5.5 video games out of a wild-card spot.

That Hurts

Mariners outfielder Jarred Kelenic was positioned on the 10-day injured listing on Thursday, sooner or later after breaking his foot whereas kicking a water cooler following a strikeout in Wednesday’s loss.

Kelenic was emotional discussing the incident with reporters.

“I made a mistake. I let the feelings get the most effective of me there. I simply really feel horrible, particularly for the fellows,” Kelenic stated. “I simply let the feelings get the most effective of me and I simply allow them to down and take full duty for it. It’s on me. It simply can’t occur.”

There isn’t a timetable for Kelenic’s return. He’s hitting .252 with 11 homers and 45 RBIs in 90 video games.

Unhappiness in Seattle

Whereas the Blue Jays all the time get a lift from the inflow of followers in Seattle, it didn’t go so properly for the group in final yr’s collection.

The Mariners swept the Blue Jays in a four-game collection in July, together with a pair of one-run victories within the remaining two contests.

Three days later, after the group had returned residence, the Blue Jays fired supervisor Charlie Montoyo and changed him with John Schneider.

Season Collection

The Blue Jays took two out of three towards the Mariners in April at Rogers Centre, falling one strike wanting a sweep.

Dalton Varsho had an RBI single within the tenth for a 1-0 Blue Jays victory within the center sport earlier than the Mariners rallied to tie the finale within the ninth after which gained it within the tenth on Cal Raleigh’s second homer of the day.

Raleigh has been an issue for the Blue Jays. Together with the 2 post-season video games from final October, the catcher has eight hits, 4 residence runs and 9 RBIs in his final 5 video games towards the Blue Jays. 

Derby Duel

After squaring off towards 2022 House Run Derby winner Juan Soto within the Padres collection, 2023 champ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. faces one other derby rival within the ballpark the place he gained the competitors earlier this month.

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Mariners star Julio Rodriguez misplaced to Guerrero on this yr’s semifinals in Seattle.

The reigning AL rookie of the yr has 13 residence runs this yr. Guerrero has 15.

Canadian Nook

Mariners reliever Matt Brash, a local of Kingston, Ont., has allowed only one hit in 5.1 innings of labor in July. He has struck out 9 and walked two.

The 25-year-old Brash picked up his first and solely profession save to this point within the collection in Toronto.

Homecoming for Kikuchi

Kikuchi, an ex-Mariner, makes his first begin in Seattle since signing a three-year take care of the Blue Jays earlier than the 2022 season.

Kikuchi, who began his major-league profession with Seattle in 2019, was an all-star in 2021 earlier than his numbers took a dramatic dip within the second half of that season.

After struggling final yr, Kikuchi has proven enchancment as Toronto’s fifth starter this season.

Up Subsequent

The Blue Jays conclude their west coast journey with a three-game collection towards the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers, beginning Monday.

— With recordsdata from The Related Press.

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