The Toronto Blue Jays will meet their four deadline acquisitions Thursday in Minnesota before starting a four-game series against the new-look Twins.
Helpers Anthony Bass and Zach Pop, infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield and right-hander Mitch White are expected to join the team after being brought on in deals on Tuesday.
After outfielder George Springer struggled with an ongoing elbow injury and right-hander Ross Stripling was placed on the IL on Wednesday with a glute/hip strain, Merrifield and White are needed this weekend.
Bass and pop, meanwhile, should help a Blue Jays bullpen lacking high-leverage weapons.
Much of the pre-game attention will be on Merrifield, who will certainly be asked about his vaccination status after missing a trip to Toronto with the Kansas City Royals last month.
Here’s a look at the Blue Jays Twins series.
Probably jugs
Thursday, 7:40 p.m. ET / 4:40 p.m. PT: Toronto RHP Alek Manoah (11-5, 2.43 ERA) vs. Minnesota RHP Sonny Gray (6-3, 3.41 ERA)
Friday, 8:10 p.m. ET / 5:10 p.m. PT: Toronto RHP Jose Berrios (8-4, 4.96 ERA) vs. Minnesota TBD
Saturday, 7:10 PM ET / 4:10 PM PT: Toronto TBD vs. Minnesota RHP Dylan Bundy (6-5, 5.04 ERA)
Sunday, 2:10 p.m. ET / 11:10 a.m. PT: Toronto TBD vs. Minnesota RHP Chris Archer (2-5, 4.05 ERA)
(All matches on Sportsnet)
Latest on the Blue Jays
The Blue Jays (58-46) opted for a miniseries split in Tampa after a 3-2 loss to the Rays on Wednesday.
Yusei Kikuchi, making his second start from a stint on the IL, looked good at first before the Rays got on the fickle left for a run in the third and another in the fourth. That was enough for Blue Jays interim manager John Schneider, who gave Kikuchi the hook after 74 pitches.
Offensively, the Blue Jays only managed four hits. Teoscar Hernandez was the bright spot with a solo home run and an RBI double.
Before the game, Schneider said White, who was acquired by the Dodgers, is a candidate to start Saturday in Stripling’s place.
Kevin Gausman would be in line to start Sunday’s game, though Toronto has yet to name a starter. He threw a jewel Tuesday and allowed just one hit and no runs in eight innings as Toronto won 3-1.
Toronto is in the first wildcard spot, two games ahead of the Seattle Mariners.
Latest on the twins
The AL Central-leading Twins (55-49) were buyers as of deadline, and three of their new players made immediate impact on Wednesday.
Jorge Lopez, acquired from the Baltimore Orioles, made his 20th save of the year on his debut with the Twins as Minnesota defeated the Detroit Tigers 4-1.
Teammate Michael Fulmer, transferred from Detroit, posted a scoreless sixth-place finish against his old team, while catcher Sandy Leon, transferred from the Cleveland Guardians, had a double in two runs as Minnesota won the series 2-1.
Minnesota is one game ahead of Cleveland for the top spot in the AL Central. The Guardians and Chicago White Sox, two games behind Minnesota, weren’t nearly as active as the Twins as of the reporting date.
The other new guy
The Twins also improved their starting rotation at deadline, acquiring Tyler Mahle from the Cincinnati Reds.
The right-hander is 5-7 with a 4.40 ERA this season.
The twins haven’t named a starter for Friday and Mahle hasn’t served since July 30, so this is the likely spot for his Minnesota debut. It would be an intriguing pitching matchup with ex-twin Jose Berrios playing for Toronto.
With their team ERA in 19th place in the majors, pitching has been a priority for the Twins, who haven’t won a playoff game since 2004. By picking up Mahle, Fulmer and Lopez, they’ve improved on the mound and should be ready to make their third postseason appearance in four years.
Mahle did not make the trip to Toronto with the Reds in May due to vaccination status, so his status for games at the Rogers Center in the playoffs could be in question.
season series
The Twins won two out of three in Toronto in June and hammered the Blue Jays’ pitchers for 20 combined runs.
Gausman didn’t get out of the fourth inning with an 8-6 loss in the series finale, while Kikuchi (who doesn’t field that series) was roughed up in the opener (a 9-3 loss).
Berrios beat his old team in the second game, hitting 13 in seven innings in a 12-3 win.
Next
The Blue Jays are out for three games in Baltimore against an Orioles team that was a seller at the close despite it being a wildcard contest.
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