Blue Jays @ Twins

Who will WIN this matchup?

Toronto Blue Jays (5-11)

@ Minnesota Twins (8-4)

Starting Pitchers:

Shoemaker (TOR): 3-0; 0.92 ERA

Perez (MIN) 1-0; 7.56 ERA

Last 10 Games Played:

Toronto Blue Jays: 3-7

Minnesota Twins: 7-3

Current odds:

Toronto Blue Jays: (+125)

Minnesota Twins: (-135)

• A massive April snowstorm put a dent in the Minnesota Twins’ last series, but they still managed to sweep the abbreviated two-game set from the Detroit Tigers over the weekend. The Twins will try to keep rolling when they host the slumping Toronto Blue Jays on Monday in the opener of a four-game series. Minnesota left fielder Eddie Rosario is leading the charge and slammed his third home run among three hits, two RBIs and two runs scored in Sunday’s 6-4 triumph. The 27-year-old recorded nine RBIs in the last six games and collected multiple hits in three of the last four contests, including both wins over the Tigers.

• The Blue Jays dropped two of three at home to the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend and are losers of 10 of 13 since taking two in a row from Detroit in the first series of the season. Toronto pitching allowed at least seven runs in each of the last three losses and will turn to right-hander Matt Shoemaker to stop the bleeding on Monday while Minnesota counters with lefty Martin Perez.

• Shoemaker tossed seven scoreless innings while yielding two hits in each of his first two starts before running into his first bit of trouble last time out. The 32-year-old was reached for four runs – two earned – over 5 2/3 innings at Boston and served up a pair of home runs but got enough support from the offense to come away with another win. Shoemaker last saw Minnesota in 2017, when he surrendered two runs across 6 1/3 innings to earn a win as a member of the Los Angeles Angels.

• Perez was named the fifth starter out of spring training but is making his first start of the season after three relief appearances due to the Twins schedule over the first two-plus weeks. The Venezuela native was not sharp out of the bullpen, allowing a total of eight runs – seven earned – in 8 1/3 innings while issuing nine walks. Perez started one game against Toronto last season as a member of the Texas Rangers and absorbed the loss while yielding four runs on five hits – three homers – in four frames.

• Blue Jays LH Thomas Pannone tossed an immaculate inning of relief on Sunday, striking out three batters on nine pitches.

• Minnesota 1B C.J. Cron hit his first homer on Sunday, snapping a string of six straight games without an extra-base hit.

• Toronto RF Billy McKinney went 3-for-5 and hit his first home of the season on Sunday.