Giants vs Blue Jays: Starting Lineup - Opening Game Preview

After a strong performance over the first half of the season, the first-place Blue Jays are hoping to pick up where they left off.

The club returns from the All-Star break with a six-game homestand against the Giants, concluding with a three-game series against the second-place New York Yankees, who are two games behind in the AL East.

San Francisco Giants (52-45, third in the NL West) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (55-41, first in the AL East)

Toronto has gone 32-16 at home and 55-41 overall. The Blue Jays have gone 42-16 in games when they record at least eight hits.

San Francisco is 52-45 overall and 24-25 on the road. The Giants have gone 29-14 in games when they record eight or more hits.

In his last outing Chris Bassitt was used for an inning of relief in a loss to the A's, throwing 10 pitches and striking out one in a scoreless frame, and since the beginning of June he's gone 4-1 in eight outings (seven starts) with a 4.65 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 35:14 K:BB through 40.2 innings.

Justin Verlander gets the ball for the Giants tonight. In his last outing Verlander (0-7) took the loss against the Phillies, allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits across six innings. He struck out seven.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has 19 doubles and 12 home runs while hitting .277 for the Blue Jays. Davis Schneider is 9 for 31 with a double and four home runs over the last 10 games.

Rafael Devers has 23 doubles and 17 home runs for the Giants. Jung Hoo Lee is 12 for 37 with two doubles and two triples over the past 10 games.

Blue Jays: 7-3, .262 batting average, 3.31 ERA, outscored opponents by 11 runs

Giants: 6-4, .223 batting average, 4.15 ERA, outscored by eight runs

Blue Jays: Ryan Burr: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Nick Sandlin: 15-Day IL (elbow), Andres Gimenez: 10-Day IL (ankle), Yimi Garcia: 15-Day IL (ankle), Anthony Santander: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Paxton Schultz: 15-Day IL (middle finger), Bowden Francis: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Daulton Varsho: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Alek Manoah: 60-Day IL (elbow), Angel Bastardo: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Giants: Erik Miller: 15-Day IL (elbow), Christian Koss: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Jerar Encarnacion: 10-Day IL (oblique), Tom Murphy: 60-Day IL (back)