Phillies head into matchup with the Blue Jays on losing streak
Philadelphia Phillies (36-23, second in the NL East) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (31-28, second in the AL East)
Toronto; Tuesday, 7:07 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Phillies: Cristopher Sanchez (4-1, 3.17 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 70 strikeouts); Blue Jays: Bowden Francis (2-6, 5.04 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 46 strikeouts)
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BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Phillies -149, Blue Jays +124; over/under is 8 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia Phillies look to break their four-game skid with a victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Toronto has a 31-28 record overall and a 20-12 record at home. The Blue Jays have the 10th-ranked team ERA in the AL at 4.04.
Philadelphia has gone 17-11 on the road and 36-23 overall. The Phillies rank fifth in the NL with 63 total home runs, averaging 1.1 per game.
The matchup Tuesday is the first meeting this season between the two teams.
TOP PERFORMERS: Bo Bichette has 17 doubles, seven home runs and 32 RBIs while hitting .277 for the Blue Jays. Ernie Clement is 15 for 38 with four doubles and two home runs over the past 10 games.
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Kyle Schwarber has nine doubles, a triple and 19 home runs while hitting .266 for the Phillies. Alec Bohm is 11 for 40 with two doubles and two home runs over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Blue Jays: 6-4, .273 batting average, 3.66 ERA, outscored opponents by five runs
Phillies: 5-5, .214 batting average, 4.95 ERA, outscored by 15 runs
INJURIES: Blue Jays: Daulton Varsho: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Anthony Santander: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Andres Gimenez: 10-Day IL (quadricep), Tyler Heineman: 7-Day IL (concussion), Yimi Garcia: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Max Scherzer: 60-Day IL (thumb), Ryan Burr: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Nick Sandlin: 15-Day IL (back), Alek Manoah: 60-Day IL (elbow), Angel Bastardo: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Phillies: Bryce Harper: day-to-day (elbow), Aaron Nola: 15-Day IL (ankle)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Mick Abel gives Phillies stability on chaotic night in Toronto
TORONTO — By the end of it, there was chaos everywhere — concern for J.T. Realmuto after taking a foul ball to his groin, further consternation about Jordan Romano's place in all of this, and lament for a failed bases-loaded opportunity in the middle of the game. And, in the corner of the visitors clubhouse at Rogers Centre after a 2-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, Mick Abel represented something stable for the Philadelphia Phillies. Advertisement No pitcher in 125 years of Major League Baseball had begun his career with two starts that consisted of at least five innings, no walks and one or zero runs allowed. Abel did it. He did not throw with the massive adrenaline bump he experienced during his big-league debut last month. But he pitched into the sixth. 'I wouldn't say I had my greatest stuff today,' Abel said. 'I didn't have my A-plus stuff today. So, going as long as I did and feeling how I did, I think I did a pretty good job.' That was something; the Phillies needed something because there was too much to digest. Realmuto was in serious pain during the ninth inning and had to leave. The team did not provide any updates on the severity of Realmuto's injury; the catcher was seen gingerly walking in the clubhouse afterward. The delay only intensified the ninth-inning drama. Jeff Hoffman, who went from the Phillies to the Blue Jays in the offseason, earned the win by getting the final out in the top of the ninth. Romano, the native Canadian son jettisoned by the Blue Jays, took the loss for the Phillies when Alejandro Kirk crushed a 97 mph fastball off the wall for a run-scoring single. Romano, who had spent more than 30 minutes before Wednesday's game acknowledging various Blue Jays fans who welcomed him back, hunched over on the mound. Romano put his hands on his knees as his former Toronto teammates celebrated on the infield. It was too poetic. 'Definitely a lot of emotion coming here,' Romano said. 'Got on the mound focused. I felt good. Stuff felt good. Obviously, not good enough.' Another strong showing from Mick! — Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 5, 2025 Without his best stuff, Abel survived. He is here to stay — perhaps longer than expected. The Phillies created a rotation opening by shifting Taijuan Walker to the bullpen. Abel will have a spot so long as Aaron Nola is sidelined, and there is a chance Nola's absence will be extended. The Phillies paused plans for Nola to throw a live session to hitters Thursday afternoon at Rogers Centre because he felt soreness in his right side. 'Very mild,' Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. Nola described the decision to halt his throwing program as 'precautionary' and did not express much concern. Advertisement But he is going to need more time. Nola said his ankle is feeling much better. But he's also been sick; an illness has spread through the clubhouse. Nola could need two minor-league rehab outings whenever he reaches that point in his recovery. That means more runway for Abel. 'I think it's the same thing,' Abel said. 'My job is to go out there and pitch every fifth day. And if that changes, that changes. I'm going to do the same thing every day throughout the week in order to prepare for those starts. Mentally, I think I'm in a really good spot right now. Not trying to ride the highs too high or really lull in the lulls. It's just trying to stay neutral the whole time.' Abel pitched Wednesday on four days' rest, only the second time in his professional career he has done that. The Phillies planned for him to have an extra day, but Zack Wheeler left the team to be with his wife, who is expecting this week. The team is unsure when Wheeler will make his next start; if he's not ready by Saturday, they will have to do a bullpen game. Knowing that Abel was in uncharted territory, the Phillies did not plan to push him. But he kept throwing strikes; he fired first-pitch ones to 13 of the 19 batters he faced. Abel has yet to walk a batter in the majors. His 11 1/3 innings without a walk are the longest to begin a Phillies career since Carlton Loewer went 12 walkless innings in 1998. He began the sixth inning at 66 pitches. His command wavered. He allowed a one-out single to Andrés Giménez. Thomson let Abel face Bo Bichette for a third time. Bichette worked a 3-0 count, then took a huge hack at a 92 mph sinker. Brandon Marsh could not reach it in the left-center field gap. It was a run-scoring triple — the first big-league run Abel allowed. That ended his night. He has shown more conviction on the mound than the Phillies could have imagined. Advertisement 'It's kind of clicked for him, you know?' Thomson said. 'He's been around now for a few years, and I think he's learned a lot. He's confident in his stuff. He understands now to attack hitters and trust his stuff, and that goes a long way.' There would have been less scrutiny on Romano in the ninth had the Phillies scored more runs. They missed a great chance in the fifth when Bryson Stott popped out and Trea Turner flied out with the bases loaded. The bullpen held — Orion Kerkering, Matt Strahm and Tanner Banks preserved the tie. If anything, the Phillies are worried about Romano having a backbreaking weakness. Opponents have stolen nine bases against him this season, already tied for Romano's season high. The Blue Jays know him well; they were going to exploit it. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who had two steals since the beginning of last season, took second base on Romano despite the pitcher trying a slide-step delivery. He was still too slow. 'It's kind of part of Jordy's game a little bit; you can see him try to be a little bit quicker,' Toronto manager John Schneider said. 'We talked about that with him for a long time. Good job by Vlad recognizing it.' Thomson said Romano has improved his times to the plate. 'But, still, we have ways to go here,' Thomson said. Is it something Romano can fix? 'I hope so,' Thomson said. 'Yeah.' Quality starting pitching fixes most things. Abel's performance was not the eye-popping type from his debut, but it was just as impressive given the circumstances. He is, for now, one less thing to stress. 'Just trying to go out there and win,' Abel said. 'It's the most important thing. I don't know if it's really a mentality shift or what. But I've felt good.'
San Francisco Chronicle
3 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto leaves game after being hit in area of protective cup by foul tip
TORONTO (AP) — Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto left Wednesday's game at Toronto in the bottom of the ninth inning after being hit in the area of his protective cup by Bo Bichette's foul tip. 'He's getting checked by the doctor right now,' manager Rob Thomson said of Realmuto after the Phillies lost 2-1 on Alejandro Kirk's game-ending hit. 'It's a pretty good one. He said he's had worse but we'll see. We'll check him out tomorrow.' 'That's something you never want to see,' Phillies pitcher Mick Abel said. 'I don't really know how it feels but I can imagine it's extremely painful.' Thomson said Realmuto did not leave the stadium to receive medical attention. The three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove award winner was in Philadelphia's clubhouse following the game. Realmuto eventually got to his feet and walked gingerly off the field. He was replaced by Rafael Marchán. 'J.T. is a tough guy,' said Jordan Romano, who was on the mound when Realmuto was hit. 'Seeing him go down like that, obviously it had to hurt pretty good. Just hope he's all right.' ___
Washington Post
3 hours ago
- Washington Post
Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto leaves game after being hit in area of protective cup by foul tip
TORONTO — Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto left Wednesday's game at Toronto in the bottom of the ninth inning after being hit in the area of his protective cup by Bo Bichette's foul tip. 'He's getting checked by the doctor right now,' manager Rob Thomson said of Realmuto after the Phillies lost 2-1 on Alejandro Kirk's game-ending hit . 'It's a pretty good one. He said he's had worse but we'll see. We'll check him out tomorrow.'
