Yariel Rodriguez takes the mound Sunday for the Toronto Blue Jays as they look to win the rubber match to wrap up a three-game road series against the Atlanta Braves.
Watch live on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ with the first pitch scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET / 10:35 a.m. PT.
The Blue Jays bounced back Saturday night and snapped a four-game losing streak with a 9-5 victory over the Braves. Spencer Horwitz had four hits including two home runs while Jose Berrios earned his 15th win of the season to set a new career high.
Slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. sits 10 points behind Bobby Witt in the race for the AL batting title. Guerrero is hitting .326 and leads the Blue Jays with 28 home runs and 94 RBIs.
Rodriguez (1-6, 4.61 ERA) is still searching for his second career win. The rookie right-hander, whose lone win came on July 6, pitched three scoreless innings and earned a no-decision during his most recent outing this past Monday against the Minnesota Twins. Rodriguez allowed three hits and two walks with three strikeouts during the Blue Jays’ 4-3 loss.
Atlanta, which won the series opener 3-1 Friday, will counter with ace Chris Sale (16-3, 2.46 ERA). Sale is tied for the lead in the majors with 16 wins and is second in strikeouts with 206, just two back of Detroit Tigers’ Tarik Skubal.
Saturday’s loss dropped the Braves (77-65) out of the final NL wild-card spot as they now sit a game back of the New York Mets.
Coincidentally, the Blue Jays will continue to have an impact on the NL wild-card picture as they return home to host the Mets for a three-game set starting Monday night.
