The Toronto Blue Jays (70-78) are set to clash with the St. Louis Cardinals (74-73) in the deciding game of their three-game interleague series this Sunday afternoon. The matchup will unfold at Rogers Centre, with the first pitch scheduled for 1:37 PM ET.
On the mound for the Blue Jays will be Yariel Rodriguez, who holds a record of 1-6 and an ERA of 4.42. The Cardinals will respond with Miles Mikolas, who has a record of 8-11 and an ERA of 5.55.
Historically, St. Louis has edged Toronto with a 6-4 record in their last ten encounters.
**This preview was developed prior to Saturday’s game.**
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Cardinals Aim for Playoff Positioning
The Cardinals recently saw their two-game road winning streak halted by the Blue Jays in the opening game of this series. A victory on Sunday could elevate them into a tie with the Chicago Cubs for second place in the NL Central standings.
St. Louis has an average of 4.10 runs per game. Their .247 batting average places them 13th in the league, while their .310 on-base percentage is 15th, and their .389 slugging percentage ranks 21st.
Masyn Winn leads the Cardinals with a .273 batting average, while teammate Alec Burleson has contributed significantly with 21 home runs and 73 RBIs.
However, the Cardinals’ pitching staff has faced challenges, allowing an average of 4.09 runs per game. Opponents are hitting .248 against them, ranking 23rd in the league. Their 4.12 ERA sits at 11th, and a WHIP of 1.26 puts them 18th.
Mikolas had a rough outing in his last start, surrendering nine hits and seven runs in just two innings, resulting in a 10-4 defeat to the Seattle Mariners. Improvement will be essential for him to secure a win on Sunday.
Blue Jays Seek to Break Losing Streak
The Blue Jays have been struggling recently, having lost their last four series. After winning the first game against the Cardinals, they will be aiming for their first series victory in five attempts.
Toronto averages 4.22 runs per game, with a .242 batting average that ranks 16th in the league. Their .314 on-base percentage is 13th, while their .394 slugging percentage is also 16th.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stands out as the Blue Jays’ most reliable hitter, leading the team with a .320 batting average, 28 home runs, and 95 RBIs.
On the pitching side, Toronto allows an average of 4.22 runs per game. Opponents have a .243 batting average against them, placing them 19th in the league, while their 4.31 ERA ranks them 23rd. Their WHIP of 1.27 is 20th overall.
In his last appearance, Rodriguez allowed two hits and one run over five innings but faced a tough 4-3 loss against Atlanta. A strong performance from him will be crucial if Toronto hopes to secure a win.
Leo Jimenez is questionable for this game due to a foot injury.
Betting Insights for Cardinals vs. Blue Jays
The Blue Jays have won two of their last three games at home, while the Cardinals have achieved the same in their recent road games. Offensively, the Blue Jays have outperformed the Cardinals, scoring 12 runs to St. Louis’ 11 during this stretch. Considering Mikolas’ recent struggles on the mound, having given up 16 runs in his last three starts, the Blue Jays are expected to maintain their offensive momentum. Conversely, the Cardinals may face challenges offensively due to Rodriguez’s improved performances, where he allowed just one run in his last two outings. With Rodriguez’s solid form, the Blue Jays are likely to cover the money line in this matchup.
