The Detroit Tigers open a three-game series on the road Friday against the Toronto Blue Jays. Detroit is 58-64 following a 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. Detroit has lost three straight, four of the last five and the Tigers are third in the American League Central 13 ½ games behind the first-place Chicago White Sox.
Jonathan Schoop is batting .284 to lead Detroit and the second baseman has team highs in RBIs with 66 and hits with 131. Catcher Eric Haase is the leader in home runs with 19 and left fielder Robbie Grossman has a team high .358 on-base percentage. On Friday, Detroit will send Tyler Alexander to the mound. The left-hander is 2-2 with an ERA of 4.57, 53 Ks and 14 BBs.
Toronto is 63-56 following an 8-5 loss to the Washington Nationals on Wednesday. Toronto has lost two straight and five out of the last six and the Blue Jays have dropped to 10 games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East. Toronto continues to produce at the plate as the Blue Jays have the second best team batting average in baseball at .265.
Right fielder Teoscar Hernandez is batting .317 to lead Toronto, while designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero Jr is the leader in home runs with 35, RBIs with 88, hits with 136 and on-base percentage at .409. On Friday, the Toronto Blue Jays will send Robbie Ray to the mound. The left-hander is 9-5 with an ERA of 2.88, 167 Ks and 36 BBs.
