(Sports Network) - The Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays close out a four- game weekend set at Rogers Centre this afternoon.
Detroit will give the ball to Rick Porcello, and the second-year hurler is just 6-11 this season with a 5.43 ERA. On Tuesday, Porcello defeated Kansas City in impressive fashion, tossing seven shutout innings of two-hit ball. He began his career as a sinkerball pitcher, but has developed more of a repertoire in recent weeks.
The Detroit righty is 1-2 in his short career against Toronto with a 4.76 ERA.
Lefty Marc Rzepczynski is in line to get the start today for the Blue Jays, and he hopes to bounce back from a lackluster showing against the Yankees on Tuesday. The lefty lasted only three innings in that game and was touched for six earned runs on eight hits. Rzepczynski is 1-2 this season with a 6.31 ERA, and he is set to face Detroit for the first time.
Brandon Morrow had another solid outing yesterday for Toronto, allowing just one run in six innings, as the Blue Jays held on to beat the Tigers, 5-4, in the third portion of this set.
Morrow (10-6) gave up five hits, striking out nine and walking one for the Blue Jays, who have won four of six, including two of three in this series. Morrow is now 3-0 in the month of August with 49 strikeouts in 30 1/3 frames over five starts.
"I've been able to wriggle out of some jams recently when I get guys on," Morrow said. "I bear down and make some good pitches, and I've been able to get out of those last five starts and keep my pitch counts down."
Jose Bautista didn't add to his league-leading homer total, but ended 2-for-3 with a triple, double and two RBI for Toronto. Travis Snider went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Adam Lind and Yunel Escobar each had two hits in the win.
Miguel Cabrera belted his 33rd home run for the Tigers, who lost for the third time in four games. Casper Wells went 2-for-2 with two RBI in defeat.
The Tigers have recorded a homer in 10 straight road games, and Cabrera increased his hitting streak to 11 games.
Alfredo Figaro (0-2), making his fourth career major league start, was reached for five runs, eight hits and two walks in five-plus innings.
"Today was a bullpen day," said Tigers reliever Brad Thomas, who pitched a scoreless inning. "You just go in there and try to eat up some innings and keep the team in the game."
Toronto has won four of the seven matchups with the Tigers this season after taking five of the eight matchups between the teams a year ago.