Phillies at Blue Jays 8/20/20 - Game 1 - MLB Picks & Prediction

In the first game of a Thursday MLB doubleheader, the Philadelphia Phillies will take on the Toronto Blue Jays from Sahlen Field. On Wednesday, Philadelphia batted 1-for-9 with RISP and struck out 12 times during a 6-3 road loss against Boston. SP Jake Arrieta (1-3) gave up four runs in four plus innings and took the loss for the Phillies, who are a game below .500 overall.

Rookie right-hander Spencer Howard (0-1 7.88 ERA) will make his third career major league start for the Phillies. Through eight innings, Howard has been tagged for 14 hits and surrendered four long balls.

The Toronto Blue Jays are riding high off a three-game sweep in Baltimore and are climbing back into the AL East Division race. On Wednesday, OF Randall Grichuk clubbed two home runs to power Toronto to a 5-2 road victory. SP Tanner Roark (2-1) allowed one run across five frames to earn the win for the Blue Jays, who improved to 10-11 on the year.

The Blue Jays will counter with thirty-two year old righty Chase Anderson (0-0 3.00 ERA) in the first game of the doubleheader. Anderson has lasted just three innings in each of his first two starts and has posted a respectable 1.33 WHIP.