Blue Jays Series Preview: Anthopoulos’ Braves overcoming key injuries

After a roller-coaster road swing, the Toronto Blue Jays return to Rogers Centre for a 10-game homestand against stiff competition. 

The challenge kicks off this weekend with three games against former the National League-leading Atlanta Braves, who are looking for a sixth consecutive playoff appearance under former Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos. 

The Blue Jays are coming off a 3-6 road trip with sweeps in all three series – three wins over the Pittsburgh Pirates were sandwiched by four losses to the Boston Red Sox and two defeats against the Philadelphia Phillies. 

The series opener against the Braves on Friday begins a stretch of 17 games without an off-day for Toronto. 

Here’s a look at the Braves-Blue Jays series. 

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Probable Pitchers 

Friday, 7:07 p.m. ET / 4:07 p.m. PT: Toronto RHP Chris Bassitt (4-2, 4.28 ERA) vs. Atlanta RHP Spencer Strider (4-0, 2.70 ERA) 

Saturday, 3:07 p.m. ET / 12:07 p.m. PT: Toronto RHP Jose Berrios (3-3, 4.91 ERA) vs. Atlanta RHP Bryce Elder (3-0, 1.74 ERA) 

Sunday, 1:37 p.m. ET / 10:37 a.m. PT: Toronto LHP Yusei Kikuchi (4-0, 4.02 ERA) vs. Atlanta TBD 

All games on Sportsnet ONE and SN NOW. 

Latest on the Blue Jays 

Streaky is the best way to describe the Blue Jays (21-16) recently. 

The up-and-down road trip came on the heels of a 5-1 homestand – with the one loss starting a five-game losing streak. 

During the six losses in Boston and Philadelphia, the Blue Jays just couldn’t seem to get the entire operation clicking. 

Take Wednesday’s series finale in Philly – a 2-1 loss in 10 innings. Kevin Gausman pitched six shutout innings, but the offence couldn’t do much against Zack Wheeler. Closer Jordan Romano gave up the tying run in the ninth before Bo Bichette’s wild throw on a what should have been an inning-ending double play in the 10th gave the Phillies the win. 

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The bullpen continues to be a concern. The relievers failed to lock down the Phillies in Tuesday’s 8-4 loss after another shaky start for Alek Manoah. 

The Blue Jays are fourth in the AL East, eight games back of the MLB-leading Tampa Bay Rays. They hold down the third and final wild-card position, one game up on the New York Yankees. 

Latest on the Braves 

The Braves (25-12) haven’t lost any of their past five series, despite a growing injury list. 

This marks their third consecutive series against an AL East team after they took two of three from the Baltimore Orioles and split a pair against the Red Sox. 

Because of all the injuries, the Braves went with a bullpen day on Wednesday and lost 5-2 to Boston. 

Atlanta used eight relievers, hanging tough before ultimately taking the loss. 

About those Injuries 

The Braves likely are going to be missing two of their top starters – Max Fried (forearm) and Kyle Wright (shoulder) – until after the all-star break.  

Fried and Wright combined to go 35-12 with a 2.83 ERA last year when the Braves lost in the NLDS to the Phillies after winning the World Series the previous year. 

The good news for Atlanta is Strider (tied for the MLB strikeout lead with Gausman), Elder (tied for first in NL ERA) and Charlie Morton are giving the Braves excellent starts on a consistent basis. 

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But there are holes, starting Sunday, where the Braves likely are looking at a triple-A callup or a bullpen day 

Calgary’s Michael Soroka, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since suffering a torn Achilles in 2020, could figure into the mix at some point. The 2019 NL rookie of the year is now at triple-A Gwinnett. 

The Braves have the best OPS in the NL, which should help some of their depth starters. 

No Homecoming for Anthopoulos 

The Montreal-born Anthopoulos, who has seen the Braves win the NL East in all five of his previous years as Atlanta’s GM, told Blair and Barker on Thursday he won’t be making the trip to Toronto. But he isn’t the only member of his organization with Toronto ties. 

Another popular ex-Jay, outfielder Kevin Pillar, also makes his return. Pillar signed a minor-league contract with the Braves this off-season and then made the opening-day roster. Since Toronto traded Pillar to San Francisco in 2019, he has has played for the Giants, Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers. 

A backup in Atlanta, Pillar hit his 100th career homer last week. 

The Braves also have former Blue Jays catching prospect Travis d’Arnaud, who never actually played for Toronto. The Blue Jays acquired d’Arnaud in the Roy Halladay deal with Philadelphia in 2010 and then traded him to the Mets in the R.A. Dickey deal in 2012. 

D’Arnaud is the backup to Sean Murphy, who also is playing at an MVP candidate level after being acquired in a trade with the Oakland Athletics this off-season. 

Monster Shot 

Braves slugger Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a 470-foot homer against the Red Sox on Wednesday. 

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The outfielder has four homers of 470 or more feet since his 2018 rookie season, tied for second most in MLB. 

Slashing .347 (top batting average in the NL)/.438/.576 with seven homers and 22 RBI, Acuna is a clear NL MVP candidate. 

Home Sweet Home 

The Blue Jays have played an MLB-low 12 games at home as they were forced on the road for 10 games to start the season while Rogers Centre renovations finished. 

Toronto is an impressive 9-3 at home. 

The Braves, however, are an MLB-best 15-3 on the road. 

Rival Reunion 

The 1992 World Series foes didn’t square off last year. 

Toronto actually went 6-0 against Atlanta in the Braves’ 2021 World Series campaign, sweeping two series in May. The Braves were one game under .500 after July before going 18-8 in August that year to start their run to the title. 

Up Next 

The Blue Jays return to AL East competition with four games against the Yankees and then three against the Orioles at Rogers Centre. 

More from Sportsnet

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