Toronto Blue Jays at Philadelphia Phillies

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
TOR	0	1	1	1	0	1	0	1	0	5	9	2
PHI	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	4	5	0

Zack Wheeler (10-2, 2.49 ERA) takes the ball for Philadelphia at 6:40 PM ET as one of the best pitchers in the sport not currently getting Cy Young buzz he probably deserves. Across the diamond, José Soriano makes his first start in a Blue Jays uniform after Toronto grabbed him from the Angels at the deadline — a bet on 2027 more than a save-this-season move, given where Toronto sits in the standings.

Show fees

FINAL

Spread

ML

Total

Blue Jays(54-62)

LWLWL

5

+1.5-111+194o7.5-102

Phillies(62-54)

WLWWW

4

-1.5+108-199u7.5+102

Best BetPhillies -230

Pregame

Wheeler on the mound against a Blue Jays lineup missing its best hitter is about as clean a moneyline spot as this sport offers. The price reflects a heavy favorite, but Toronto is trotting out a pitcher who's never thrown a pitch in this uniform, against a Philadelphia team that's been finding ways to win all week.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. remains day-to-day with right hamstring tightness that's been nagging him for over a week now, and his availability for this series is still being sorted out game to game. Philadelphia has its own minor scare to track: Andrew Painter left his last start with hamstring tightness, though an MRI came back clean and he's already lined up for his next turn in St. Louis — a scheduling footnote that shouldn't touch this series either way.

José Soriano

(10-6)·3.23 ERA

Jul 26 @ Giants

W

5.0IP

0ER

5K

3BB

85P

08/07 Lineup

Zack Wheeler

(10-4)·2.92 ERA

Aug 2 @ Orioles

ND

2.0IP

0ER

3K

0BB

32P

08/07 Lineup

Zoom out and the two franchises are headed in opposite directions. Toronto shipped out Kevin Gausman and Daulton Varsho before the deadline, a clear signal from the front office that this season is about setting up the next one. Philadelphia, meanwhile, is fighting inside a crowded NL East race and has treated every game the last two weeks like it matters — because it does.

Toronto Blue Jays

(54-62)

Aug 6L@ Cubs2-3

Aug 5W@ Astros5-4

Aug 5L@ Astros2-7

Aug 4W@ Astros3-1

Aug 2Lvs Cardinals1-5

Philadelphia Phillies

(62-54)

Aug 6Wvs Nationals7-3

Aug 5Lvs Nationals4-10

Aug 4Wvs Nationals5-0

Aug 3Wvs Nationals6-3

Aug 2W@ Orioles8-0

The Blue Jays did just take 2 of 3 from Houston, so this isn't a team that's rolled over entirely, and they've shown they can still scrap in close games even with the roster this beat up. But a rotation that's lost Trey Yesavage to knee surgery, watched Spencer Arrighetti get hurt again on a rehab start, and shelved Patrick Corbin for the year leaves Toronto starting a brand-new arm with zero track record in this park.

Toronto Blue Jays

(14)

• Day-To-DayLuis Urias (2B) — Urias was removed from Thursday's game against the Cubs due to right quad discomfort, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.08/06
• Day-To-DayVladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B) — Guerrero (hamstring) remains out of the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Cubs.08/06
• 10-Day-ILJonatan Clase (LF) — Clase (foot) isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.07/22
• 15-Day-ILSpencer Arrighetti (SP) — Arrighetti (foot) suffered an injury and was removed from his minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo in the third inning, Thomas Hall of The Jays Nation reports.08/06
• 15-Day-ILTrey Yesavage (SP) — Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Thursday that Yesavage has been diagnosed with meniscus damage in his left knee and will visit a specialist Monday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.08/06
• 60-Day-ILPatrick Corbin (SP) — Toronto transferred Corbin (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.08/05
• 60-Day-ILLenyn Sosa (2B) — Sosa (wrist) will resume taking live batting practice this week, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.08/02
• 60-Day-ILJoe Mantiply (RP) — Mantiply (knee) has resumed throwing bullpen sessions, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.07/27
• 60-Day-ILYimi Garcia (RP) — Garcia (elbow/neck/biceps) has been pulled off his rehab assignment and will be examined by a doctor for possible thoracic outlet syndrome, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.07/27
• 60-Day-ILAddison Barger (RF) — Barger is expected to be sidelined six months following surgery Monday to repair his right elbow UCL, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.07/27
• 60-Day-ILAnthony Santander (RF) — Santander is still dealing with discomfort in his surgically repaired left shoulder and recently received another cortisone shot, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.07/17
• 60-Day-ILJose Berrios (SP) — Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Berrios underwent full Tommy John surgery Wednesday in addition to having a stress fracture repaired, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.05/27
• 60-Day-ILCody Ponce (SP) — Ponce underwent surgery Friday to repair the ACL in his right knee, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.05/08
• 60-Day-ILBowden Francis (SP) — The Blue Jays placed Francis (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.05/08

Philadelphia Phillies

(7)

• Day-To-DayDerek Hill (CF) — Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said Thursday that Hill (shoulder) could be "ready to go" off the bench in Thursday's game versus the Nationals, Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic reports.08/06
• Day-To-DayAndrew Painter (SP) — An MRI on Painter's left hamstring came back negative, and he is expected to make his next start Monday in St. Louis, Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic reports.08/06
• 10-Day-ILRafael Marchan (C) — The Phillies placed Marchan (knee) on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to July 23.07/24
• 60-Day-ILBrad Keller (RP) — Keller underwent right elbow UCL reconstruction surgery with internal brace and flexor tendon repair Tuesday, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.07/29
• 60-Day-ILTanner Banks (RP) — The Phillies placed Banks on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a left forearm strain.07/25
• 60-Day-ILJohan Rojas (CF) — Rojas (suspension) underwent surgery Friday to repair the UCL in his right elbow and will face an expected recovery timeline of 6-to-8 months, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.06/25
• 60-Day-ILAdolis Garcia (RF) — The Phillies announced that Garcia underwent successful surgery Wednesday to repair a torn right lat, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.06/24

Philadelphia's absences are far less alarming by comparison — a banged-up catcher spot and a couple of relievers on the shelf, nothing that touches tonight's lineup. Under interim manager Don Mattingly, the Phillies have won 4 of their last 5 and look like a team playing loose with something to prove, which is a dangerous combination against a club that's openly building for next year instead of this one.