Phillies at Blue Jays
After receiving a sterling start from their National League Cy Young candidate to snap a four-game losing skid, the Philadelphia Phillies look to a former recipient of that award to keep them headed in the right direction. Jake Arrieta takes the mound on Friday as the Phillies (69-58) begin their final interleague series with the opener of a three-game set versus the host Toronto Blue Jays (58-69).
Aaron Nola outdueled Max Scherzer to notch his 15th win and Odubel Herrera belted a two-run homer as Philadelphia kept within three games of NL East-leading Atlanta with Thursday's 2-0 victory over Washington. The Phillies hope their strong interleague play this season carries over into the weekend, as they've won 11 of 17 of contests -- although they dropped two of three to Toronto at Citizens Bank Park in May. Toronto answered a disastrous four-game losing skid in which it was outscored 34-15 by maintaining its mastery over Baltimore, completing a 10-game season sweep at Rogers Centre following Wednesday's 6-0 romp. Kendrys Morales belted his fifth homer in the last four games overall and is 3-for-6 with two RBIs in his career versus Arrieta.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Jake Arrieta (9-8, 3.25 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Ryan Borucki (2-3, 4.27)
Arrieta has followed up a 4-0 mark over a seven-start stretch with back-to-back losses, although he deserved a better fate in his last trip to the mound. The 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner allowed just one run on four hits while striking out six without walking a batter over six innings in a 3-1 setback to the New York Mets on Saturday. Curtis Granderson is 10-for-32 with three homers and 10 RBIs against Arrieta, who owns a 4-2 mark with a 4.85 ERA in eight career encounters versus the Blue Jays.
Borucki's last trip to the mound was a brief one, as the 24-year-old rookie was blitzed for a career-worst six runs on four hits in two-thirds of an inning in Sunday's 10-2 loss at the New York Yankees. Borucki allowed the first six batters he faced to reach base as the wheels came off in a hurry. He has yielded 14 runs on 19 hits and two homers in his last three starts after keeping the ball in the park in each of his previous seven outings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Philadelphia 2B Cesar Hernandez has eight hits and six runs scored in his last seven games overall, although he went 1-for-12 in the previous series versus Toronto.
2. Granderson is 7-for-16 with three doubles and four runs scored in his last five contests.
3. Phillies C Wilson Ramos said he hopes to return for the series opener after being sidelined three games with a sore left wrist.