Blue Jays Face Phillies as They Push for Wild-Card Spot

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — The Toronto Blue Jays are set to continue their road trip with a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies, starting Friday at 6 p.m. ET.

After sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals, the Blue Jays arrive in Philadelphia riding a wave of momentum, winning 12 of their last 14 games. This surge places them at 38-30 in the standings and vying for a wild-card spot, although they are still 4.5 games behind the New York Yankees in the American League East.

This season, the Blue Jays lead the American League with 21 comeback wins. Right-hander Kevin Gausman will take the mound for Toronto, making his 14th start of the year with a record of 5-4 and a 3.87 ERA. Recently, Gausman faced some challenges, allowing three runs on four hits during his last outing against the Minnesota Twins last Saturday.

Injuries are complicating Toronto’s lineup. Ernie Clement, who is batting 11 for 38 with a home run over his last 10 games, is listed as day-to-day due to a lower-body injury he sustained while attempting a diving catch. He played through the injury against the Cardinals but could be sidelined for the upcoming matches.

The Phillies counter with left-handed pitcher Ranger Suarez, who holds a 4-1 record and a 2.70 ERA this season. Suarez experienced his first loss of the year last Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowing two runs on five hits. This will be Suarez’s first start against the Blue Jays.

In their previous series, the Blue Jays took two of three games from the Phillies at Rogers Centre, adding another layer of intensity to this matchup as both teams aim to gain momentum as the season progresses.