Braves at Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays spent the weekend sweeping three contests from defending National League East champion Washington, and Tuesday take their shot at the current division leader when the Atlanta Braves arrive to open a two-game series. Right fielder Randal Grichuk stayed hot in Sunday’s 8-6 victory, belting a pair of solo homers to raise his average to .326 with five homers and 13 RBIs since returning June 1 from a sprained ligament in his right knee.
The Blue Jays have averaged 10.3 hits in winning seven of their past 10 games, scoring five or more runs five times and slugging eight homers in the sweep of Washington. They will encounter one of the hottest pitching staffs in the majors this week as Atlanta completed a 5-1 homestand with a 4-1 victory over San Diego on Sunday, pushing its division lead to a season-high 3 ½ games. Braves starters are 29-16 with a 3.24 ERA and 1.23 WHIP this season, and in their past six games Atlanta starters have posted a 2.17 ERA with 58 strikeouts and 37 hits allowed in 54 innings. Tuesday’s series opener will hold extra meaning for Braves starter Mike Soroka, as the 20-year-old from Calgary pitches in his native country for the first time as a big leaguer.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), TVA, Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Mike Soroka (2-1, 2.57 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Jaime Garcia (2-5, 5.71)
Soroka showed no rust coming off the disabled list Wednesday for his first start since May 12, carrying a no-hitter through six innings before leaving with one hit allowed and one walk over 6 1/3 innings to beat the New York Mets. Making his fifth major-league start in the series opener, Soroka has walked one hitter or fewer while striking out four or more in three of his first four appearances. Soroka made two minor-league starts while recovering from a right shoulder strain, giving up one run with 10 strikeouts.
Garcia has battled inconsistency since going 2-2 across his first five starts, allowing four runs or more four times while giving up just one earned run in his other three outings. The 31-year-old lost his fifth straight decision Tuesday at Tampa Bay, allowing four runs with four walks and four strikeouts in five innings. Garcia, who went 4-7 with a 4.30 ERA in 18 starts with the Braves a season ago before being dealt to Minnesota, sports a 3.00 ERA at home compared to an 8.04 mark on the road.
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta RF Nick Markakis (92) and 1B Freddie Freeman (91) began Monday leading the NL in hits.
2. The Blue Jays are 6-2 in interleague play this season while Atlanta is 3-2.
3. Toronto 1B Kendrys Morales finished with two hits Sunday and is batting .359 with six multi-hit games in his past 10 contests.