GDB 73: Blue Jays continue to fight towards .500 baseball against the Boston Red Sox

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The Toronto Blue Jays are once again down in the series, with the club dropping last night’s contest to the Boston Red Sox by a score of 7-3. While the Jays have put a few series in the win column, they have done so recently when at a disadvantage in terms of dropping the first game.

The club will have to contend without shortstop Bo Bichette for the next little bit, as the infielder was placed on the IL with a right calf strain. The corresponding move is exciting, as the Jays called upon the second-ranked prospect within the farm system, Orelvis Martinez. The 22-year-old currently leads the entire organization in terms of home runs (16) and boasts a .866 OPS in triple-A, producing triple-digit exit velocities with regularity for the Bisons. While he is not in today’s starting lineup, he could work off the bench sometime later in the game.

Heading to the mound tonight for the Blue Jays is Chris Bassitt, who is coming off a solid performance against Milwaukee where he went five innings and didn’t allow an earned run while striking out five. He did struggle at times with his command, producing four walks in the contest, but he has been one of the top Jays’ starters as of late – boasting a 1.93 ERA through his last seven starts.

Orelvis has ENTERED the building! #TOTHECORE pic.twitter.com/7H8YTeTsYX

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 18, 2024

Opposite Bassitt on the mound will be right-hander Tanner Houck, who is making his 15th start of the season. The Missouri product has been dominant this season, posting a 2.08 ERA through 91 innings and already has a complete game shutout on his resume this season. He has held opponents to a .517 OPS and owns a 8.80 K/9 and a 1.48 BB/9 so far this season. The Jays hitters should expect a steady diet of his slider, sinker, and split-finger pitches and manager John Schneider has elected to put some more left-handed batters in the lineup, with Addison Barger and Spencer Horwitz both getting pencilled in.

Looking ahead, the Blue Jays will look to turn things around against the Red Sox before tomorrow night’s series finale, with a six-game road trip to follow where Toronto will take on the Cleveland Guardians and then the Red Sox in their respective home barns.

First Pitch: 7:07 pm EST

TV & Radio: Sportsnet, SN590

Starting Pitchers:

Lineups

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