Minnesota @ Toronto preview
Rogers Centre
Last Meeting ( Oct 1, 2012 ) Minnesota 5, Toronto 6
The Toronto Blue Jays are fighting to stay out of the American League East cellar, but they're also getting a glimpse of what could be a bright future. A pair of rookies led a late rally in Monday's series opener against the visiting Minnesota Twins, and the Blue Jays will look for more bright spots from their young prospects when the three-game series continues Tuesday at Rogers Centre. Yan Gomes hit a two-out homer in the ninth to tie it Monday, and fellow rookie Anthony Gose singled home the winning run in the 10th. The win pulled Toronto two games clear of last-place Boston in the AL East, while Minnesota remained mired in the AL Central cellar, one game behind Cleveland.
While the series doesn't have any impact on the pennant races, it does have a bearing on Detroit star Miguel Cabrera's quest for the triple crown. Minnesota's Joe Mauer went 1-for-5 with an RBI single Monday, lowering his average to .322 and dropping him seven points behind Cabrera for the AL lead. Toronto slugger Edwin Encarnacion (muscle strain) sat out Monday and remains at 42 home runs, two behind Cabrera. The Blue Jays have won three of five meetings this season and need one win in the final two games to clinch the season series for the seventh consecutive year.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), SN, TVA Sports (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Anthony Swarzak (3-5, 4.91 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Chad Jenkins (0-3, 4.67)
Swarzak has spent most of the season as the Twins' long reliever, but will make his fifth start of the year with Samuel Deduno scratched with left eye irritation. The starting role has not been kind to Swarzak as he's 0-4 with an 8.35 ERA in his four starts this season. This is his first start since May 25. Swarzak made one relief appearance against Toronto and pitched three scoreless innings.
Jenkins is still in search of his first major-league win as he makes his third start after 10 relief appearances for the Blue Jays. The 24-year-old lasted only 3 2/3 innings his last time out against the Yankees, allowing three runs on four hits. He has lost both of his previous starts. Jenkins has never faced Minnesota.
WALK-OFFS
1. Blue Jays 1B Adam Lind went 4-for-4 Monday, raising his average to .305 in 33 games since coming off the disabled list Aug. 27.
2. Twins 1B Justin Morneau will not be in the starting lineup for the final two games and will be used only in an emergency, manager Ron Gardenhire told reporters after Monday's game. Morneau has played in 134 games, his highest total since playing 135 games in 2009.
3. The Blue Jays are a combined 3-for-17 (.176) against Swarzak. Rajai Davis, Yunel Escobar and Colby Rasmus each have one single against the right-hander.