The Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays meet in the final contest of a four-game series between American League rivals at the Rogers Centre

Detroit Tigers at Toronto Blue Jays

Detroit has won the last two games of its four-game series with Toronto, including a come-from-behind 5-2 victory on Sunday afternoon.  The Tigers were led by outfielder Austin Jackson offensively, who collected three hits for a second straight day, including a tie breaking home run in the seventh inning.  The team has at least one extra-base hit in all 35 of its games this season.  Detroit has also been receiving great pitching from its starting staff, posting a quality start in 23 of its last 31 games, which has resulted in a solid 3.29 ERA over that span.  The squad looks to improve upon its record against right-handed starters this season, coming into Monday’s contest with an 8-14 mark.

Tigers starting pitcher Max Scherzer has a perfect 5-0 record and 3.15 ERA in seven starts this season, with the team winning six of those outings.  The right-hander is coming off a brilliant home appearance against the Yankees, tossing eight shutout innings and scattering four hits.  Scherzer has managed to post a 2-0 mark in three road starts this year despite carrying a high 6.62 ERA.  In 17.2 frames away from Comerica Park, he has allowed seven home runs and issued 11 walks.  He has faced Toronto jsut once in his career, allowing one run on six hits in eight innings last year.

Toronto is struggling offensively in managing to score just 17 runs in six games during the month of May, but many believe its been due to injuries.  Two of those players returned to the lineup on Sunday in a losing effort, none more important than All-Star outfielder Jose Bautista.  He connected on his 10th home run of the season and is batting .352 through the first six weeks.  “We could have done a better job, with some other at-bats,” Bautista commented.  “We didn’t get a lot of baserunners today,, so it was difficult to score runs.”  Toronto is now just 6-5 in its last 11 meetings with Detroit at the Rogers Centre.  The team is 11-14 against right-handed starters this year.

Blue Jays starting pitcher Brandon Morrow has garnered an even 1-1 record and 3.06 ERA in three starts this season, as the club has won his last two outings.  The right-hander has collected 23 strikeouts in 17.2 innings of work, while allowing just a single home run.  He picked up a loss in his only home start of the year against the Rays, which served as his season debut, surrendering three runs and three hits over 5.1 innings.  Morrow will be making his 11th appearance (second start) versus Detroit, coming in with a 1-0 mark and 1.69 ERA, allowing them to hit for a dismal .167 average combined.

Bettors will likely back the Blue Jays due to their 7-1 record in Morrow’s last eight home starts, while the Tigers are 5-12 in Scherzer’s last 17 road outings.