San Francisco Giants vs Toronto Blue Jays Picks and Predictions July 11th 2024

Pitchers Face Former Teams as Blue Jays Finish Set vs. Giants

When right-handers Kevin Gausman and Jordan Hicks square off on Thursday afternoon, the host San Francisco Giants and the Toronto Blue Jays will play their final three games of a three-game series. The teams split their first two games of the interleague series, with the Blue Jays leveling the series with a 10-6 victory on Wednesday after the Giants won by a walk-off score of 4-3, on Tuesday.

Gausman’s Return to San Francisco

The decisive game will feature Kevin Gausman and Jordan Hicks, who were teammates in Toronto for the final two months of the 2023 season. Gausman joined the Blue Jays as a free agent after the 2021 season, leaving the Giants where he’d played for two years. In San Francisco, Gausman went 17- 9 with a3.00 ERA, earning a National League All- Star selection in 2021 with a 14- 6 record and a2.81 ERA.

Recently, Gausman has tried to return to his 2021 form.

” It’s something we are trying to get back to what I was doing in 2021,” said Gausman, who owns a 94- 99 lifetime record.” I think it’ll allow me to be around the zone a little bit more.”

The veteran pitcher will show up in San Francisco since leaving the group. On June 27, 2023, in his only other encounter with the Giants since joining Toronto, Gausman lost by three runs and zero hits in six innings while striking out 12. In his most recent start, he allowed two runs in six innings and matched his season high of 10 strikeouts in a 2-1 loss to Seattle. Gausman has a 3.38 ERA in three career starts against the Giants.

Hicks Faces Former Team

Jordan Hicks, who pitched 25 games in relief for the Blue Jays last August and September after being traded from theSt. Louis Cardinals, will take the mound for the Giants. Hicks posted a 2- 3 record with a2.63 period and four saves during his stint with Toronto. The 27- year-old inked with the Giants in January and has not faced the Blue Jays since also. His record against Toronto includes an 0- 2 mark with a16.50 ERA in four games( one launch).

Hicks started the season strong, going 4- 1 with a2.38 ERA in his first 10 starts. However, he has struggled lately, posting an 0- 4 record with a5.02 ERA in his once eight outings. His four losses during this period came against the New York Yankees, Houston Astros,St. Louis Cardinals, and Atlanta Braves, in games where the Giants scored a aggregate of eight runs.

To get back into the palm column, Hicks knows he needs to improve his performance with two outs.

” I have given up six runs on two- out rallies,” he said of his past two starts.” I just need to find a way to bear down and get that third out after two quick ones.”

Injuries Impacting Blue Jays

Gausman might have to pitch without two regulars behind him, as both shortstop Bo Bichette( sore right calf) and left fielder Daulton Varsho( bruised left knee) had to leave Wednesday’s game. Their absence could be a factor in the game, potentially serving Hicks and the Giants.

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Conclusion

As Kevin Gausman and Jordan Hicks take the mound to face their former teams, both pitchers have something to prove. Gausman aims to show he still has the form that made him an All- Star with the Giants, while Hicks looks to recapture his early- season success. The final game of the series promises to be a compelling matchup as both teams seek a series victory before moving on to their next challenges.