Toronto @ Miami preview
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Last Meeting ( Jun 14, 2009 ) Florida 11, Toronto 3
Trying to keep pace in the toughest division in baseball would be difficult enough without the rash of injuries racking the Toronto Blue Jays' starting rotation, so the thinned-out staff will need all the help it can get from Toronto's explosive offense when it begins a three-game road series against the Miami Marlins.
The Blue Jays are hovering a game above .500, but they're in last place in the ultra-competitive American League East. They blasted 10 home runs in a three-game series at Milwaukee this week, but the patchwork pitching staff didn't hold up in losing two of three.
The Marlins are scrambling to avoid the cellar, too. They dropped three games below .500 by blowing a two-run lead in the eighth inning at Boston on Thursday and slid eight games behind division leader Washington. Miami has lost four straight and is one game ahead of last-place Philadelphia.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SN-1 (Toronto), Fox Sports Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Ricky Romero (7-1, 4.28 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Anibal Sanchez (3-5, 3.47)
Romero has enjoyed strong run support, as evidenced by the fact he has allowed at least four runs in five straight outings but hasn't lost since May 13 at Minnesota. He gave up four runs on seven hits over six innings Saturday against the Phillies but settled for a no-decision. Romero has never faced the Marlins.
Sanchez is winless in three starts since May 29, but he put himself in position to win with a quality start Saturday at Tampa Bay. He allowed three runs on four hits over 6 1/3 innings and struck out six. Sanchez has never faced the Blue Jays.
WALK-OFFS
1. Blue Jays sluggers Jose Bautista (22) and Edwin Encarnacion (20) are the only teammates in the majors with at least 20 homers apiece.
2. The Marlins are 4-14 in June after going 21-8 in May. Over the past three seasons, Miami is 51-35 in May and 20-51 in June.
3. The teams have not met since 2009, but the Marlins have won the last eight meetings dating to June 8, 2001.