Pirates start 3-game series with the Blue Jays

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Toronto Blue Jays (73-52, first in the AL East) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (52-73, fifth in the NL Central)

Pittsburgh; Monday, 6:40 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Blue Jays: Kevin Gausman (8-9, 3.79 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 138 strikeouts); Pirates: Paul Skenes (7-9, 2.13 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 166 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Pirates -112, Blue Jays -107; over/under is 7 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday to open a three-game series.

Pittsburgh has gone 34-29 at home and 52-73 overall. Pirates pitchers have a collective 4.04 ERA, which ranks eighth in the NL.

Toronto is 73-52 overall and 31-31 on the road. The Blue Jays have the best team batting average in MLB play at .269.

The matchup Monday is the first meeting this season between the two teams.

TOP PERFORMERS: Isiah Kiner-Falefa has a .267 batting average to lead the Pirates, and has 17 doubles, two triples and a home run. Nick Gonzales is 13 for 41 with an RBI over the past 10 games.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ranks second on the Blue Jays with 51 extra base hits (30 doubles and 21 home runs). Daulton Varsho is 13 for 34 with two doubles, five home runs and 14 RBIs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pirates: 3-7, .224 batting average, 5.82 ERA, outscored by 28 runs

Blue Jays: 6-4, .287 batting average, 4.30 ERA, outscored opponents by 17 runs

INJURIES: Pirates: Oneil Cruz: 7-Day IL (concussion), Endy Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Enmanuel Valdez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Justin Lawrence: 60-Day IL (elbow), Tim Mayza: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jared Jones: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Blue Jays: Shane Bieber: 60-Day IL (elbow), Bowden Francis: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Ryan Burr: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Nick Sandlin: 15-Day IL (elbow), Yimi Garcia: 15-Day IL (ankle), Anthony Santander: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alek Manoah: 60-Day IL (elbow), Angel Bastardo: 60-Day IL (elbow)

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.