Blue Jays at Twins
The Toronto Blue Jays have wobbled a bit after a surprisingly strong start and hope to string together a pair of wins for the first time in almost two weeks when they visit the slumping Minnesota Twins on Monday for the opener of their three-game series. The Blue Jays dropped six of seven before launching three homers in a 7-2 victory over Texas on Sunday to salvage the finale of their three-game home set.
Kevin Pillar hit one of the blasts - his third in two contests - and is 6-for-13 with five RBIs during his four-game hitting streak for Toronto, which also visits Cleveland and Tampa Bay on its eight-game road trip. Aaron Sanchez will try to even his record when he takes the mound for the Blue Jays while Lance Lynn starts for the Twins, who have dropped nine of 10 after beginning the season 8-5. Minnesota could not take advantage of major league-worst Cincinnati this weekend, losing two of three - including an 8-2 setback on Sunday. The Twins were without slugger Miguel Sano (five homers, 14 RBIs) in the last two contests due to a sore left hamstring, but he could return to the lineup in the series against Toronto.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One (Toronto), FS North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Aaron Sanchez (1-2, 3.69 ERA) vs. Twins RH Lance Lynn (0-2, 7.71)
Sanchez has recorded four straight quality starts but has posted just one victory in that stretch after a no-decision last time out against Boston in which he struck out eight and yielded two runs over six innings. The 25-year-old has allowed nine runs on 19 hits over 26 frames in his last four turns, throwing between 96 and 99 pitches in each. Eddie Rosario is 2-for-2 and Jason Castro has homered versus Sanchez, who is 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA in three career games (two starts) against Minnesota.
Lynn is looking for his first victory with the Twins after permitting 11 runs on 14 hits and eight walks over 9 2/3 innings in his last two starts. The 30-year-old Ole Miss product did not factor in the decision against Houston on April 9, when he worked five scoreless innings - the only outing in which he has yielded fewer than five runs. Russell Martin (7-for-18, one homer) and Kendrys Morales (3-for-3, two homers) have had success against Lynn, who is 0-2 with a 2.25 ERA in two career appearances (one start) versus Toronto.
WALK-OFFS
1. Minnesota INF Eduardo Escobar is 10-for-23 with five doubles and four RBIs during his six-game hitting streak.
2. Toronto optioned slumping 2B Devon Travis to Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday and recalled RHP Carlos Ramirez from the Bisons.
3. The Twins won four of the seven overall meetings last year but split four contests in Minnesota.