Twins at Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays have a long way to go before getting back into playoff contention, but they can be a pest in the final two months of the season - especially on their home field. The Blue Jays go for their 16th win in 22 contests at Rogers Centre on Monday night to open a three-game set against the Minnesota Twins, who were cooled off when they got swept over the weekend.
Toronto rallied late on Sunday for a 5-4 victory to complete a three-game sweep of major league-worst Baltimore as Yangervis Solarte broke out of a slump with a two-run homer and an RBI double. Outfielder Randal Grichuk is 7-of-20 over his last five games for Toronto (46-52), which won two of three contests at Minnesota (44-53) from April 30-May 2. The Twins were rolling before the All-Star break with nine wins in 11 contests to pull within 7 1/2 games of first-place Cleveland in the American League Central but lost all three at last-place Kansas City after the Midsummer Classic. Minnesota managed just three hits in the 5-3 loss to the Royals on Sunday and Eddie Rosario went 0-for-3 to end his nine-game hitting streak.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), TVA Sports, Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins LH Adalberto Mejia (0-0, 9.00 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Luis Santos (0-0, 7.88)
Mejia returns to the Twins for his second start of 2018 after spending most of the season with Triple-A Rochester. The 25-year-old Dominican, who went 4-7 with a 4.50 ERA in 21 starts last year, gave up four runs and six hits over four innings in a no-decision June 30 against the Chicago Cubs. Mejia is 5-3 with a 3.32 ERA in 14 appearances (11 starts) with Rochester in 2018 and lost his only career start against Toronto last year.
With Blue Jays opting to send Marco Estrada for a rehab outing instead, Santos is expected to make the first start of his major-league career after 15 relief appearances. The 27-year-old Dominican has allowed one run on six hits over 6 1/3 innings across his last four outings after getting pounded in his 2018 debut. Santos, who owns 25 strikeouts in 24 2/3 major-league innings, gave up one run and took one loss in two appearances spanning 2 2/3 innings against the Twins in 2017.
WALK-OFFS
1. Minnesota RHP Fernando Rodney needs one save to break the tie with Jose Mesa (321) for 19th on the majors' all-time list.
2. Toronto 2B Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is 11-for-21 during a five-game hitting streak to raise his batting average to .281.
3. Twins 1B/DH Logan Morrison (hip) went 0-for-3 with an RBI on Sunday in his return from the disabled list.