Blue Jays vs Athletics: Starting Lineup - Game Two Preview

With the all-star break in sight, the Toronto Blue Jays are hoping to keep the good times rolling.

After Friday's series-opening victory over the Athletics at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, Calif., the Blue Jays can clinch their sixth straight series victory on Saturday.

Toronto saw its 10-game winning streak come to an end on Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox, but potentially started a new one in a 7-6 triumph over the A's.

Max Scherzer struck out eight batters and allowed five hits over six innings to win for the first time in nearly a year, and the Blue Jays scored six unearned runs in the fifth inning to beat the Athletics 7-6 on Friday night.

Scherzer struck out five consecutive batters during one stretch.

In his last outing Kevin Gausman did not factor into the decision in a 3-2 win over the Angels, allowing two runs on seven hits and three walks with nine strikeouts over 5.2 innings.

Gausman allowed runs in the first and fifth innings and was pulled one out shy of a quality start after a season-high 107 pitches.

While the veteran was inefficient at times Sunday, he generated 12 whiffs with his splitter and has now allowed only four earned runs over his past three outings.

He'll take a 4.13 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 102:32 K:BB across 104.2 innings into tonights game versus the Athletics.

Jacob Lopez gets the ball for the Athletics tonight. In his last outing Lopez (2-5) allowed four runs on five hits and a walk while striking out eight over 4.1 innings to take the loss versus the Giants.

Lopez had a shaky first inning and gave up a run when Willy Adames drew a bases-loaded walk.

Adames added a solo home run in the fourth inning, and Lopez found more trouble in the fifth before his exit.

In between, however, he was nearly untouchable, striking out seven straight batters at one point.

The southpaw has allowed eight runs (seven earned) over his last two starts, covering 7.2 innings with a 9:2 K:BB in that span.

He's walked precisely one batter in seven of his last nine outings, but the overall results have been fairly mixed.

For the season, he has a 4.26 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 64:19 K:BB through 50.2 innings over 13 appearances (nine starts).

George Springer has hit 16 home runs with 53 RBI. Both are team-highs, Springer ranks 36th in homers and 31st in RBI in the bigs.

Bo Bichette is hitting .279 with 22 doubles, a triple, 12 home runs and 23 walks, Bichette has at least one base hit in six games in a row. In his last 10 games he is hitting .342 with three doubles, a home run, four walks and four RBIs.

Alejandro Kirk's .306 batting average paces his team. Kirk takes a four-game streak with at least one hit into this one. In his last five games he is hitting .333 with three walks and an RBI.

Brent Rooker has racked up a team-best 19 home runs and 50 runs batted in.

Tyler Soderstrom is hitting .257 with 14 doubles, a triple, 15 home runs and 37 walks.

Lawrence Butler is batting .253 with 24 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs and 37 walks.

Blue Jays: Daulton Varsho: 10 Day IL (Hamstring), Andrés Giménez: 10 Day IL (Ankle), Yimi Garcia: 15 Day IL (Ankle), Nick Sandlin: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Bowden Francis: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Paxton Schultz: 15 Day IL (Middle finger), Alek Manoah: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Anthony Santander: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Angel Bastardo: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Ryan Burr: day-to-day (Shoulder)

Athletics: Luis Urias: 10 Day IL (Hamstring), Grant Holman: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Luis Medina: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Gunnar Hoglund: 60 Day IL (Hip), Jose Leclerc: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Ken Waldichuk: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Brady Basso: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Jacob Wilson: day-to-day (Arm)