Toronto Blue Jays vs. Philadelphia Phillies: Double-header preview
By Ryan Patrick
Players to watch for
Randal Grichuk has been red hot at the plate, riding an eight-game hitting streak. He’s 14 for 33 during that time, with six home runs and 14 RBI. He has homered in four straight games, including two on Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles.
Not to be outdone, Teoscar Hernadez has been one of the best hitters on the team this season. He comes into Thursday hitting .277 with a .881 OPS, seven homers and 14 RBI through his first 21 games. While he’s been swinging the hot bat, Hernandez has been in the spotlight for some questionable defensive miscues which have cost the team some runs.
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With Bichette on the shelf, all eyes will continue to be on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He’s hitting just .222 with a .675 OPS through his first 21 games. Will he turn things around this season or will it take another year for the top prospect to find his groove?
Jordan Romano has stepped up in a big way since Ken Giles went down with a forearm injury. In 11 innings pitched, the reliever has only allowed one earned run with 15 strikeouts. His 0.82 ERA and 0.73 WHIP put him among some of the league’s very best relief pitchers.
Another player to keep an eye on is Julian Merryweather, who is still looking to get into a game to make his MLB debut.
Fortunately for Toronto, both games on Thursday will only be seven innings. They will be looking for their starters to give them at least five or six innings if possible.
The first pitch for the opener is set to fly at 1:05 p.m. ET, with Game 2 scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET.
More. Timing of Ken Giles’ return could be crucial for Blue Jays. light
What will you be looking for from the Blue Jays on Thursday? Can they continue their winning streak and win both games against the Phillies? Let us know in the comments below.