Toronto vs Philadelphia   Results, Match Player Stats & Records

Toronto wrapped up a series victory in Houston on Wednesday, posting a 5-4, 10-inning win over the Astros before flying to Chicago for a makeup game of an earlier rainout. The Blue Jays gave up two runs in the ninth and one in the 11th to absorb a 3-2 defeat to the Cubs, spoiling a seven-inning gem by ace Dylan Cease.

The Blue Jays will try to bounce back as they venture to Philadelphia to begin a three-game set with the Phillies. Yet, while Toronto manager John Schneider noted that the Thursday defeat stung, he clearly hasn't lost any faith in the defending American League champions.

"The guys are playing their (butts) off," said Schneider, whose team has not lost back-to-back games since a four-game skid from July 19-22.

Alejandro Kirk went 4-for-5 with an RBI on Thursday, while Andres Gimenez contributed three hits out of the No. 9 hole. As a team, the Blue Jays went 1-for-19 with runners in scoring position.

"You want to get the offense going," Schneider said. "You want to either get some timely hits or add some slug, like we've talked about a lot. The other phases of the game, I like what they're doing. I like the way they're competing, and you got to brush this off, leave it here and go on to Philly."

The Phillies are coming off a series victory over the visiting Washington Nationals, as they took three of four in this week's set, highlighted by a 7-3 triumph on Thursday. The Phillies hit eight doubles -- two by Bryson Stott -- and finished with 16 hits in the emphatic victory, their fifth in the past six games.

"It was nice to see the guys swing the bats tonight, up and down. Everybody with the contributions," Philadelphia interim manager Don Mattingly said.

Luis Arraez delivered an RBI double in the first inning. He has driven in at least one run in each of his first three games since joining the Phillies from the San Francisco Giants in a trade-deadline deal.

"His skill set and his tools are going to play really well in our lineup," Philadelphia slugger Kyle Schwarber said.

The Phillies hope that Zack Wheeler (10-2, 2.49 ERA) can carry the momentum into the Friday outing. The veteran right-hander has pitched only five combined innings in his last two starts. After allowing five runs in a then-season-low three frames against the Miami Marlins on July 27, Wheeler was pulled after two innings Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles when the game went into a rain delay.

"Felt good," Wheeler said after the rain-shortened outing. "Felt better than the other day (against Miami)."

Wheeler has started eight times against Toronto in his career, going 1-2 with a 3.60 ERA. He faced the Blue Jays on June 9 and yielded one run in six innings in a no-decision.

Jose Soriano (9-6, 3.29 ERA) will take the ball for his Blue Jays debut after being acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels earlier in the week. The 27-year-old right-hander is coming off a strong July in which he posted a 2.74 ERA in four starts for the Angels.

In his most recent outing, Soriano gave up just an unearned run in five innings during a 4-3 win over the Giants on Sunday.

"He's having a great year," Schneider said of Soriano, who is 1-0 with a 4.70 ERA in two career games (one start) against the Phillies.

--Field Level Media