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Francis to start for Blue Jays in rubber match against Athletics
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    Francis to start for Blue Jays in rubber match against Athletics

    One day after Kevin Gausman pitched a complete-game victory, the Toronto Blue Jays will be hoping Bowden Francis can weave some magic of own in Oakland on Sunday afternoon.

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    Francis (2-2, 9.00 ERA) gets the start less than a week after returning from the injured list, when he served as a bulk reliever in a 10-1 loss to the Orioles. That game, which was Francis’ first appearance since April 24, saw the six-foot-five righty give up five hits, four runs and no walks while striking out two over 3.1 innings.

    Francis is filling Alek Manoah’s spot after it was announced earlier this week that the right-hander would be undergoing season-ending elbow surgery.

    The good news for Francis is that Gausman’s outing means the bullpen is well rested, should he struggle.

    The other positive sign was the offensive outburst Blue Jays hitters delivered in Saturday’s 7-0 victory over the A’s, including ending a near historic streak of first innings without scoring at 29 games.

    The streak came to a merciful conclusion when recent call-up Spencer Horwitz came home on a Danny Jansen sacrifice fly. A five-run fifth then made for a rare blowout by the light-hitting Jays.

    Jansen and Bo Bichette both went 2-for-4 in the win, driving the Jays’ offence. Both of Bichette’s hits were doubles — two of five the Jays had on the day — while Kevin Kiermaier picked up just his second home run of the season off the first pitch A’s starter Luis Medina threw his way in the fifth.

    Toronto looks to take the series win in Sunday’s rubber match after losing the series Friday’s opener 2-1. A’s centre fielder JJ Bleday delivered a walk-off home run on the first pitch of the ninth inning from Toronto reliever Chad Green.

    Watch the Blue Jays take on the A’s live on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ with first pitch scheduled for 4:07 p.m. ET / 1:07 p.m. PT.

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    The Toronto Blue Jays are set to face off against the Oakland Athletics in a crucial rubber match, and left-handed pitcher Jeff Francis will be taking the mound for the Blue Jays. This decision comes after a strong performance by Francis in his last outing, where he pitched six scoreless innings against the Baltimore Orioles.

    Francis, a veteran pitcher with over 10 years of experience in the major leagues, has been a reliable option for the Blue Jays this season. Despite his age, the 33-year-old has shown that he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level.

    In his last start, Francis displayed excellent command of his pitches, mixing in his fastball, curveball, and changeup effectively to keep hitters off balance. His ability to locate his pitches and keep hitters guessing has been key to his success this season.

    The Blue Jays will be counting on Francis to deliver another strong performance against the Athletics, who have a potent lineup led by sluggers like Khris Davis and Matt Olson. With the series tied at one game apiece, a win in the rubber match could give the Blue Jays some much-needed momentum as they look to climb up the standings in the competitive American League East.

    Overall, Francis’s experience and poise on the mound make him a solid choice to start in this crucial game for the Blue Jays. Fans will be eagerly watching to see if he can continue his recent success and help lead the team to victory.