The Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers are set to play an abbreviated one-game series due to a rained out contest on May 17 at Comerica Park
Toronto Blue Jays at Detroit Tigers
Toronto registered its first three-game interleague sweep since June 16-18, 2009 and will now look to move above .500 for the season. The Blue Jays came into their series in St. Louis on a four-game losing streak, but scored 16 runs on 28 hits against the Cardinals. “Any time you sweep anybody it’s big, especially after you’ve been swept,” said Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia. “It shows the resiliency of this team. There is no quit in it.” The club will now finish an 11-day, 10-game road trip with Monday’s makeup game. Outfielder Jose Bautista will approve of returning to the Motor City, hitting .441 with four home runs in his last nine games against the Tigers. Toronto is 29-18 in night games this year.
Blue Jays starting pitcher Zach Stewart is set to make just his third career Major League start, as the club has dropped both of his outings thus far. The right-hander was handed a 5-1 loss at Atlanta last time out, giving up five runs and 10 hits over 3 2/3 innings of work. “I just left a few balls out over the middle of the plate and the mistakes I made they took care of,” Stewart stated after his last start. “I guess that’s what you find out is the difference, in the Major Leagues and Minor Leagues.”
Detroit has scored 27 runs in its last four games and plated seven runners in an 8-3 come-from-behind victory over Arizona yesterday. The Tigers were playing in front of a sold out crowd due to the franchise retiring the jersey of former manager Sparky Anderson. “It was just one of those days,” said Diamondbacks starter Joe Saunders. “I think Sparky had a little to do with it.” Third baseman Miguel Cabrera always has a say in the team’s offensive performance and is a .322 lifetime hitter against the Blue Jays. He is batting .469 with seven runs scored over the last 10 games. Detroit is 26-28 versus right-handed starters this year.
Tigers starting pitcher Max Scherzer is 9-3 with a 4.61 ERA in 16 starts this season and had his three-game winning streak snapped last time out. The right-hander surrendered six runs and nine hits over six innings of a 6-1 road loss to the Dodgers. He will be making his 10th start of the year at Comerica Park, bringing in a solid 5-1 record and 3.20 ERA, serving up just three home runs in 56 1/3 frames. In three career starts versus the Blue Jays, Scherzer is a perfect 2-0 with a sparkling 1.35 ERA.
Bettors will likely back the Tigers due to their 8-2 record in home starts, while the Blue Jays are 15-18 when playing a team with a winning record
