Vladimir Guerrero Jr. needs three hits against the visiting Miami Marlins in a three-game series that begins Friday night to become the sixth Toronto Blue Jay with a 200-hit season.
Guerrero went 2-for-4 in a 6-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday to give him a .325 batting average, second in the major leagues to Bobby Witt Jr.’s .332.
The Blue Jays (74-85) ended a five-game losing streak by taking the series finale vs. the Red Sox.
Miami (59-100) will enter the final series of the year with a depleted bullpen following a 13-inning, 8-6 victory over the host Minnesota Twins on Thursday night in the decisive game of a three-game series. Miami used seven relievers in pushing Minnesota to the brink of elimination from playoff contention.
Two former members of the Blue Jays’ organization — Otto Lopez and Griffin Conine — combined for three RBIs for the Marlins in the 13th.
If Guerrero reaches 200 hits, he would tie John Olerud, who had exactly that number while batting .363 in 1993, for fifth on the Blue Jays’ single-season hit list. Vernon Wells leads the list with 215 hits (2003) and is followed by Tony Fernandez at 213 (1986), Paul Molitor at 211 (1993) and Shannon Stewart at 202 (2001).
Despite Guerrero’s production, the Blue Jays’ offense has struggled.
Toronto had not homered for five consecutive games until Jonatan Clase hit a two-run shot in the seventh inning on Wednesday. It was the first career home run for the 22-year-old rookie center fielder.
“I know I can do different things for my team, but my main goal is just trying to get on base,” Clase said. “If I can get on base, I can help my team a lot.”
Clase, who had three hits on Wednesday, was acquired in July from the Seattle Mariners for reliever Yimi Garcia. He was promoted to the Blue Jays from Triple-A Buffalo last week.
Toronto’s Alejandro Kirk extended his hitting streak to 17 games in the finale vs. the Red Sox. He is batting .310 (22-for-71) during that span.
Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios (16-10, 3.38 ERA) will aim to set a career high in wins on Friday. Berrios is 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA in two career starts against the Marlins.
Miami is scheduled to start right-hander Adam Oller (1-4, 5.06 ERA). In his only game against Toronto, on April 17, 2022, he took the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) in a 3 1/3-inning start for the Oakland A’s.
As for Miami’s former Blue Jays, Lopez stroked a go-ahead double in the 13th against Minnesota, and Conine added a two-run single. The Marlins’ dugout erupted in celebration.
“It was awesome,” Conine said. “That was a definition of staying in the fight.”
The Marlins played as if they were in contention for a playoff spot.
“It’s cool,” Conine said. “This is where we want to be in the future as an organization.”
Lopez played one game for Toronto in 2021 and eight games in 2022 before his contract was sold to the San Francisco Giants prior to spring training this year. Miami acquired him off waivers in April.
Conine, the son of Marlins franchise legend Jeff Conine, was Toronto’s second-round draft pick in 2018 but never made it to the majors with the Blue Jays. He was acquired by the Marlins in a 2020 trade.
Miami could face another former teammate in Toronto this weekend. The Blue Jays claimed right-hander Brett de Geus off waivers from the Marlins on Sept. 12, and they added him to the major league roster on Wednesday.
de Geus appeared in 11 major league games between the Mariners and Marlins this season, going 0-2 with a 5.00 ERA. In 58 career major league games, he is 3-4 with a 7.17 ERA.
–Field Level Media
