St. Louis @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 26, 2011 ) Toronto 5, St. Louis 0

The surprising Toronto Blue Jays attempt to extend their winning streak to six when they begin a three-game interleague series against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals on Friday. Toronto, which sits atop the American League East, has been an offensive force as it leads the major leagues with 311 runs scored. The Blue Jays have crossed the plate 36 times during their winning streak and outscored Detroit 20-8 in their three-game sweep.

Toronto, which hopes to have Edwin Encarnacion back in the lineup after he sat out Thursday with a back injury, belted three home runs in Thursday's 7-3 triumph as Juan Francisco launched a two-run blast while Brett Lawrie and Melky Cabrera hit solo shots. St. Louis went 1-3 in its four-game, home-and-home series against Kansas City, squandering a two-run lead in Thursday's 3-2 road loss. The Cardinals have dropped seven of their last nine contests, scoring fewer than three runs four times in that span.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), SNET (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Lance Lynn (6-3, 3.48 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Marcus Stroman (2-0, 7.30)

Lynn is coming off his shortest outing of the season, a 3 1/3-inning performance during which he allowed seven runs - four earned - on eight hits and four walks while also hyperextending his knee covering first base. The disappointing effort marked only the third time the 27-year-old yielded more than three earned runs in 12 starts this year. Lynn has made one career appearance against Toronto, giving up one hit in three scoreless frames of relief.

Stroman was impressive in his first major-league start on Saturday, allowing just one run and five hits while striking out six in six innings of a triumph over Kansas City. The 23-year-old had a strong start to his career, going 1-0 while yielding one run and two hits over 3 1/3 frames in his first three relief appearances. But he was tagged for nine runs - eight earned - and 11 hits over three innings in his next two games before making his debut in the rotation.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Blue Jays have averaged six runs while winning 14 of their last 16 games.

2. St. Louis 3B Matt Carpenter has gone 8-for-11 over his last three games and hit safely in 17 of 18 contests.

3. Francisco, Lawrie and Cabrera each hit his 10th home run Thursday, giving Toronto five players in double digits. The Blue Jays lead the majors with 87 blasts.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 7, Blue Jays 4