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Blue Jays' Francis set to pitch against Angels in bid for continued success
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    Blue Jays’ Francis set to pitch against Angels in bid for continued success

    The Toronto Blue Jays will send Bowden Francis to the mound on Saturday as they look to continue a four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels.

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    Toronto enters the third game of the series against Los Angeles on the heels of back-to-back wins, improving its record to 5-0 against the Angels this year.

    And although they squeaked out those 5-3 and 5-4 victories, it continued a trend of hot hitting that’s aided the Jays well. Toronto has outscored opponents by 14 runs through its last 10 games and is 51-9 this when it has scored at least five runs.

    Meanwhile, Francis (6-3, 4.38 ERA) enters the contest looking to continue a string of strong starts. His most recent outing came against the Chicago Cubs last Sunday when he pitched seven innings and allowed zero runs on three hits with zero walks and seven strikeouts.

    The 28-year-old’s second-last start came against the Angels, and he looked equally impressive in that outing as he allowed just one run on one hit, zero walks and eight strikeouts through seven innings.

    Should Vladimir Guerrero Jr. play on Saturday, after getting Friday off, he’ll remain one of the hottest hitters in the league and one to watch against Los Angeles. The four-time All-Star has 26 home runs, 56 walks and 81 RBI while hitting .316 for the Blue Jays this year.

    Daulton Varsho has also looked solid lately, batting 12-for-42 with two doubles, a triple, a home run and five RBI over the past 10 games.

    On the other side, Carson Fulmer (0-4, 4.24 ERA) heads to the hill as the Angels look to snap a three-game skid, all on the road.

    Toronto (61-68) is fifth in the American League East, while Los Angeles (54-75) is fifth in the American League West.

    Following Saturday’s game, the Blue Jays stay home to wrap up the series against the Angels on Sunday.

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    The Toronto Blue Jays’ starting pitcher, Alek Manoah, is set to take the mound against the Los Angeles Angels in a bid to continue his recent success on the mound. Manoah has been one of the most impressive young pitchers in the league this season, posting a 2.47 ERA and striking out 63 batters in just 51 innings of work.

    The 23-year-old right-hander has been a key contributor to the Blue Jays’ success this season, helping them stay in the playoff race despite a number of injuries to key players. Manoah’s ability to miss bats and keep hitters off balance with his fastball-slider combination has made him a tough matchup for opposing lineups.

    In his last start against the Baltimore Orioles, Manoah threw six shutout innings, allowing just two hits and striking out nine batters. His performance earned him his sixth win of the season and further solidified his place as a rising star in the league.

    Facing off against the Angels will present a new challenge for Manoah, as they boast a potent lineup led by superstar outfielder Mike Trout. However, Manoah has shown that he is more than capable of handling tough lineups, as evidenced by his dominant performances against teams like the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox earlier in the season.

    If Manoah can continue his recent success against the Angels, it will not only help the Blue Jays in their push for a playoff spot but also further establish him as one of the top young pitchers in the game. Blue Jays fans will be eagerly watching as Manoah takes the mound, hoping to see him continue his impressive run of form and lead the team to another crucial victory.