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The Blue Jays face a tough challenge as they start the second half against the red-hot Tigers
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    The Blue Jays face a tough challenge as they start the second half against the red-hot Tigers

    As the trade deadline draws closer, the Toronto Blue Jays return to the field Friday with a potential sell-off seemingly looming.

    The Blue Jays (44-52) are 9.5 games back of the wild-card spot as they open the second half with a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers at Rogers Centre.

    Although Toronto did go 5-4 on a road trip before the All-Star break, that wasn’t enough to narrow the playoff gap.

    Pending free agents Yimi Garcia, Danny Jansen, Yusei Kikuchi and Justin Turner are prime candidates to be dealt before the July 30 trade deadline.

    As for this series, the Blue Jays face a Tigers team that has moved 2.5 games in front of Toronto after winning eight of its last 10.

    Right-hander Jack Flaherty starts Friday’s opener for Detroit (47-50), and has allowed just seven runs in his past five outings.

    Chris Bassitt gets the start for the Blue Jays, having allowed seven runs in his past two outings.

    There should be roster updates for the Blue Jays before the game.

    Shortstop Bo Bichette missed the four games before the All-Star break with right calf soreness, but was not put on he injured list.

    Garcia, meanwhile, is expected to rejoin he team after making a couple of rehab appearances with triple-A Buffalo. He has been out since mid-June with right elbow ulnar neuritis.

    The Blue Jays also shuffled their pitching rotation on Thursday to ensure Kikuchi gets two starts before the trade deadline. He’ll start Saturday’s second game of the series.

    Friday’s game is on Apple TV+.

    Catch the audio broadcast on Sportsnet 590 The Fan at 7:07 p.m. ET / 4:07 p.m. PT.

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    The Toronto Blue Jays are gearing up for a tough challenge as they head into the second half of the season against the red-hot Detroit Tigers. The Tigers have been on a tear lately, winning seven of their last ten games and climbing up the standings in the American League Central.

    The Blue Jays, on the other hand, have been struggling to find their footing this season. They currently sit at the bottom of the AL East standings and are looking to turn things around in the second half. However, facing a team like the Tigers, who are firing on all cylinders, will be no easy task.

    One of the biggest challenges the Blue Jays will face is trying to contain the Tigers’ potent offense. Detroit boasts one of the best lineups in the league, led by sluggers like Miguel Cabrera and Jonathan Schoop. The Blue Jays’ pitching staff will need to be on top of their game if they hope to keep the Tigers’ bats in check.

    On the flip side, the Blue Jays will need to find a way to generate some offense of their own against a tough Tigers pitching staff. Detroit’s rotation is anchored by ace Casey Mize, who has been dominant on the mound this season. The Blue Jays’ hitters will need to be patient and disciplined at the plate if they want to have any chance of putting runs on the board.

    Overall, the Blue Jays face an uphill battle as they take on the red-hot Tigers in the second half of the season. However, baseball is a game of unpredictability, and anything can happen on any given day. The Blue Jays will need to bring their A-game if they hope to come out on top in this tough matchup.