Right-handed pitcher Kevin Gausman heads to the hill Sunday as the Toronto Blue Jays aim to finish a four-game sweep at home against the Los Angeles Angels.
Watch the game live on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ starting at 1:37 p.m. ET / 10:37 a.m. PT.
The Blue Jays are coming off a spirited performance from starting pitcher Bowden Francis, who took a no-hitter into the ninth inning during Saturday’s 3-1 victory. Francis finished with a career-high 12 strikeouts and gave up just one run on one hit — a solo home run to Taylor Ward.
Ward downplayed Francis’ stellar performance.
“I really don’t know. You know, I thought everything was hittable,” Ward said to MLB.com’s Julia Kreuz when asked what made Francis so tough. “Maybe to other guys, he made better pitches. A lot of guys were talking about his split and that being on. But personally, I didn’t think it was anything special.”
Toronto is also looking to take the season series after completing a three-game sweep in Los Angeles two weeks ago.
Gausman (11-9, 4.24 ERA) will try to replicate his performance against the Angels on Aug. 13 as he aims for his 100th career win. The 33-year-old pitched seven shutout innings with five strikeouts during the 6-1 victory. Gausman has picked up the win in five of his past seven starts.
Slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his team-leading 27th home run Saturday as the Blue Jays extended their active streak of games with a homer to 13. Outfielder Daulton Varsho has an active on-base streak of 22 games, the longest in the American League, with 24 hits — including two home runs — and eight walks during that span.
The Angels will counter with left-handed pitcher Tyler Anderson (10-11, 3.40 ERA). The 34-year-old took the loss in a 9-2 defeat when he faced the Blue Jays on Aug. 14. Anderson, who is winless in four starts against Toronto, conceded seven runs on six hits with four walks and eight strikeouts over 5.2 innings. Guerrero, Varsho and Ernie Clement all hit home runs off of Anderson.
Following Sunday’s game, the Blue Jays continue their homestand against the Boston Red Sox starting with a doubleheader Monday.
