TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:

THE LATEST: The Blue Jays completed a three-game sweep of the White Sox in Chicago last night, winning both games of a doubleheader…Earned their 5th sweep of the season and 2nd against Chicago, finishing the season series with the Southsiders at a perfect 6-0…Improved to 14-5 vs. AL Central opponents. Toronto has won three straight games on the heels of a three-game slide…Has gone 19-13 over its last 32 games and is 22-15 over the last 37…Toronto’s .595 win% over that span (since May 26) is the best in the AL (2nd: CLE – .579).

OPENING ACT: In the opening game of last night’s doubleheader, the teams took a scoreless tie into the 11th inning before the Blue Jays put up a six-spot, winning the contest by a 6-2 final…Improved to an even 5-5 in extra-inning games this season…Scored six runs in a single extra-inning frame for the 3rd time in franchise history, also plating six in the 11th inning on May 14, 2011 at MIN and doing so in the 10th inning on Aug. 3, 1995 at BAL.

GRAND FINALE: The Blue Jays used 16 hits, including a trio of home runs, to edge the White Sox, 5-4, in the 2nd half of the doubleheader…Are now an AL-best 15-9 in one-run contests (.625%).

BEEN BERRÍ GOOD LATELY: José Berríos tossed 7.0 shutout innings in the opening game yesterday, allowing a single and a walk with six strikeouts…Gave up just one hit over 7.0 frames for the 2nd time in his career, also doing so exactly two years prior against the same team as a member of the Twins (July 6, 2021 vs. CWS)…Over his last 16 starts, has gone 8-4 with a 2.75 ERA (30 ER/98.1 IP) and a 1.07 WHIP…His ERA over that span (since April 14) ranks 5th among all American League pitchers.

TWO-HOMER WHIT: Whit Merrifield crushed a pair of solo home runs in the late game last night, his 3rd and 4th jacks of the season…Was his 1st multi-homer game of the year (4th career) and his 2nd as a member of the Blue Jays (also: 2HR on Sept. 22, 2022 at TB). The three-time All-Star has maintained a .303 (46-for152) batting average over his last 42 games, including eight doubles, three homers, and 18 RBI (.776 OPS)… Among AL players, is currently T-7th in stolen bases (19) and 14th in AVG (.284).

BO KNOWS BASE HITS: Bo Bichette notched an RBI single in the first game of the doubleheader before going 4-for-5 in game number two, combining to go 5-for-10 on the night… Marked his 4th game with at least four hits this season (10th career)…Currently leads the AL with 119 hits, 17 more than any other batter, and trailing only Luis Arraez (124) for the most in the Majors…His .320 batting average also is tops in the AL while sitting 2nd in total bases (187), 5th in SLG (.503), 9th in OPS (.851), and T-9th in XBH (37). The 25-year old has the 3rd-most knocks before the All-Star Break in franchise history, sitting just two hits behind Vernon Wells for the team record (121 in 2003).0

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Blue Jays are on a six-game, AL Central road trip (3-0 so far)…Own a 25-22 road record this season for a .532 win%, 5th in the AL…Are wrapping up the unofficial first half of the season with this trio of games in Detroit before heading into the All-Star Break. Blue Jays hitters rank 2nd among AL clubs in road AVG (.263), 5th in road OBP (.325), 5th in road SLG (.423), and 5th in road OPS (.748)…The pitching staff ranks 9th in the AL in road ERA (4.35), 11th in road WHIP (1.35), and 14th in road opponents’ AVG (.262).

VLAD TO THE BONE: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went a combined 3-for-10 last night with a double and a trio of RBI’s…Has five multi-hit efforts in his last 12 games, batting .298 (14-for-47) with eight extra-base hits and 15 RBI (1.004 OPS). The three-time All-Star’s 92 hits are currently tied for 7th most in the AL while his 57 RBI are 7th…Has recorded an AL-leading 157 hard-hit balls (95+ MPH) this season.

CHAP’S STICK: Matt Chapman picked up a double and his 12th homer of the year in the late game, going 2-for-4…Now has 28 doubles to lead all AL batters, while sitting T-4th in extra-base hits (40).

STARTING SOMETHING: Toronto pitchers have now combined for 42 quality starts, 4th most in the Majors…The starting rotation ranks 3rd in MLB in strikeouts (503), 4th in innings pitched (483.2), 8th in ERA (4.00), 9th in AVG (.243), and 13th in WHIP (1.26).

VS. THE TIGERS: All-Time: 243-206
2023: 2-1 Road: 111-109
Road: 0-0 Comerica Park: 40-34

The Blue Jays took two of three from the Tigers in Toronto’s Home Opening series at Rogers Centre in April…Toronto’s pitching allowed three runs in each contest…The Blue Jays went 5-2 against the Tigers last year and have not lost a season series vs. DET since 2018 (3-4). Alejandro Kirk has gone 3-for-8 (.375) against the Tigers this season, notching a homer and five RBI… In 13 career meetings vs. DET, has batted .293 (12-for-41) with three doubles, two home runs, and 10 RBI (.880 OPS).

Matt Chapman has picked up multiple hits in each of his last three games against the Tigers…Over 27 career games vs. DET, has gone 25-for-101 (.248) with three doubles, two triples, 12 home runs, and 20 RBI for a .673 SLG and a 1.029 OPS.

Whit Merrrifield leads all current Blue Jays with 103 games played vs. DET, batting .333 (140-for-421) while recording 35 doubles, seven triples, 11 home runs, and 52 RBI along the way (.896 OPS)…The 140 knocks are his most against any single opponent in his career.

STARTING PITCHER – Alek Manoah, RHP #6
YEAR W-L ERA G GS IP H ER HR BB SO AVG
2023 1-7 6.36 13 13 58.0 68 41 11 42 48 .289

TODAY’S GAME:
Making his 14th start of the season and his 7th on the road…Took the loss in his last Major League start, on 6/5 vs. HOU, lasting 0.1 frames while allowing 6ER on 7H and a walk. Made a start with Double-A New Hampshire on 7/2 vs. POR, tossing 5.0 innings of one-run ball with 3H, 3BB, and 10K. Since entering the league in 2021, has held opposing righthanded hitters to a .181 AVG, the 5th-best mark among qualified hurlers.

2023 HIGHLIGHTS:
Dropped to 1-6 on the year on 5/31 vs. MIL, surrendering 2 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks over 4.0 innings with 2 strikeouts. Took the loss on 5/3 at BOS, giving up 5R/2ER over 5.0 innings with 8 hits, a walk, and 3 strikeouts on a season-high 103 pitches (63 strikes). Landed a no-decision on 4/28 vs. SEA, giving up 2 runs on 6 hits and 4 walks over 5.0 frames with a season-high 7 strikeouts. Threw 7.0 shutout frames on 4/22 at NYY, scattering just 2 hits and a walk with 5 strikeouts…Was his 2nd outing with 7.0 scoreless innings this season (also: 4/5 at KC). Took a no-decision in the team’s Home Opener on 4/11 vs. DET, giving up 3 runs on 4 hits and 5 walks over 4.1 innings with 3 strikeouts…Became the 5th pitcher in team history to pitch the club’s Season Opener and then their Home Opener, joining Jim Clancy (1981), Jimmy Key (1989), Marcus Stroman (2016), and Hyun Jin Ryu (2020). Earned his 1st win of the year on 4/5 at KC, tossing 7.0 frames of one-hit, shutout ball with four walks and five strikeouts. Was the Opening Day starter for the Blue Jays on 3/30 at STL…Took a no-decision that day, giving up 5 runs on a career-high 9 hits and 2 walks over 3.1 innings with 3 strikeouts… At 25 years and 80 days old, became the 4th-youngest Opening Day starter in team history (Drew Hutchison – 24.227 in 2015; Todd Stottlemyre – 24.324 in 1990; Marcus Stroman 24.338 in 2016).

DETROIT TIGERS NOTES:

TIGERS SHUTOUT A’S TO SALVAGE SERIES FINALE: The Tigers blanked the Athletics 9-0 in the series finale on Thursday. Tigers All-Star Michael Lorenzen started and earned the win, throwing 5.0 shutout innings with three hits allowed and four strikeouts. Tyler Holton worked 2.0 perfect innings of relief, while Brendan White and Chasen Shreve closed the victory with a scoreless inning each. Offensively, Javier Baez reached base four times, going 3×3 with a double, two RBI and a walk, while Jake Marisnick went 2×4 with a double, a home run and two RBI. Kerry Carpenter also had two hits and a RBI.

ROSTER MOVES: The Tigers have announced the following roster moves:
*Following yesterday’s game, optioned LHP Zach Logue and INF Tyler Nevin to Triple A Toledo

*Reinstated RHP Alex Faedo from the 15-day injured list

*Reinstated OF Akil Baddoo from the 10-day injured list

VIERLING STAYS HOT: Matt Vierling was on base twice yesterday, going 1×4 with a RBI and a walk. Since coming off the injured list on June 12, Vierling is batting .364/.440/.591 with two doubles, two triples, three home runs and eight RBI. Among qualified AL hitters in that span, he ranks third in batting average, fifth in onbase percentage, slugging percentage and OPS (1.031).

HOLTON PUTTING UP ZEROS: Tyler Holton pitched 2.0 perfect innings yesterday against Oakland, striking out one. Since June 4, Holton has given up only two earned runs in 13 appearances, posting a 0.98 ERA (18.1IP/2ER) and 20 strikeouts. For the season, Holton ranks eighth among American League relievers (min. 30.0 innings) in ERA (1.97), while he is 10th in WHIP (1.01).

TIGERS AND BLUE JAYS: The Tigers and Blue Jays begin their second series of the season tonight. Detroit and Toronto played earlier this season at Rogers Centre with the Blue Jays winning two-of-three games. Detroit went 2-5 against Toronto last season, including a 1-2 record at Comerica Park.

AT COMERICA PARK: The Tigers are 1-2 on their current six-game homestand, which includes three games vs. Oakland (1-2) and three games vs. Toronto (July 7-9). Detroit is 19-23 at Comerica Park this season. The Tigers are hitting .242/.315/.378 as a team at home, while the pitching staff has a 4.48 ERA (386.0IP/192ER).

INJURY REHAB UPDATE: Riley Greene continued his injury rehab assignment with Triple A Toledo last night, starting in center field and going 1×3 with a solo home run. Greene has been sidelined since May 31 with a left fibula stress reaction.

TIGERS ON THE IL:

• LHP Tyler Alexander (left lat/shoulder strain, 60-day IL on July 4, retroactive to July 3) • LHP Matthew Boyd (left elbow sprain, 60-day IL on June 27)
• RHP Beau Brieske (right upper arm discomfort, 60-day IL on March 30, retroactive to March 27)
• OF Riley Greene (left fibula stress reaction, 10-day IL on May 31)
• OF Austin Meadows (anxiety, 60-day IL on April 8, retroactive to April 7)
• RHP Casey Mize (right elbow sprain, 60-day IL on February 17)
• RHP Freddy Pacheco (right elbow sprain, 60-day IL on March 27)
• RHP Spencer Turnbull (neck discomfort, 60-day IL on May 12, retroactive to May 7)
• RHP Will Vest (right lower leg strain, 15-day IL on June 27)
• RHP Trey Wingenter (right biceps tendinitis, 60-day IL on April 22, retroactive to April 19)

TONIGHT’S TIGERS STARTING PITCHER

49 Alex Faedo • 1-3, 5.54 ERA (26.0IP/16ER)

• Faedo will make his sixth start of the season for the Tigers tonight in the series opener vs. Toronto after being reinstated from the injured list prior to the game…had been sidelined since June 3 with right middle finger discomfort.
• Made an injury rehab appearance with Triple A Toledo on Sunday at Columbus, allowing four runs on six hits with a walk and two strikeouts in 3.1 innings.
• Will be making his first career appearance against the Blue Jays tonight…in nine career starts at Comerica Park, Faedo has a 1-5 record with a 5.93 ERA (44.0IP/29ER) and 44 strikeouts.
• Earned his first win of the season on May 25 vs. Chicago (AL), pitching 6.0 innings and allowing two runs on three hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts…became the third pitcher in franchise history to throw 6.0 innings with three-or-fewer hits allowed, no walks and 10-ormore strikeouts, joining Denny McLain on July 21, 1965 vs. Cleveland (Game 2) and Aníbal Sánchez on August 3, 2014 vs. Colorado.
• Has made six starts with Triple A Toledo this season, posting a 0-2 record with a 3.80 ERA (21.1IP/9ER) and 21 strikeouts.