The Toronto Blue Jays (48-54) host the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (49-54) today seeking their fifth straight victory and trying to improve their position in the A.L East race where they are currently in last place.
The Blue Jays are the still the bottom dwellers of the East despite their winning streak, trailing the Baltimore Orioles by half a game (48-53). If they are victorious and the O’s fall to the Texas Rangers, the Blue Jays will overtake their division rivals, but more importantly continue their hot streak and focus on climb back in the race for the second wild card spot, where they trail the Kansas City Royals by six games
In the A.L East standings they are also behind the Tampa Bay Rays (53-50), New York Yankees (54-46) and the leading Boston Red Sox (56-47) who have lost four of their last five games.
For this game, the Blue Jays are encouraged by the resurgence of their bats. Toronto swept the Oakland Athletics and in the last game of the series the hitters exploded scoring eight runs led by homers from Josh Donaldson, Steve Pearce and a pair by Cuban DH Kendrys Morales.
Last night’s game was very close, with the Athletics leading 4-3 as they reached the ninth inning, when Morales ruined their party for the second day in a row as he blasted his second homer of the night off reliever Blake Trinen to even the score. Toronto went on to win in the tenth, with a grand slam by left fielder Steve Pearce.
Tonight, the Blue Jays will bet on left-handed J.A. Happ to help them win their fifth in a row, although he has struggled recently losing three out of his last four games and owns a 3-7 record with a 4.13 ERA this season.
For the Angels, starter Parker Bridwell (4-1, 2.73 ERA) will lead them in an effort to stop a three-game skid. The Angels were swept by the Cleveland Indians in their latest series and are 4-6 in their last 10 games.
