Blue Jays @ Indians

Who will WIN this matchup?

Toronto Blue Jays (3-4)

@ Cleveland Indians (2-3)

Starting Pitchers:

Sanchez (TOR): 1-0; 0.00 ERA

Bauer (CLE) 0-0; 1.29 ERA

Last 10 Games Played:

Toronto Blue Jays: 3-4

Cleveland Indians: 2-3

Current odds:

Toronto Blue Jays: (+175)

Cleveland Indians: (-185)

• The Cleveland Indians own the worst team batting average in the majors though their first five games and it won’t get any easier as they meet Toronto Blue Jays ace Aaron Sanchez in the opener of a four-game home series Thursday night. The Indians are batting just .160 with a paltry .237 on-base percentage while managing only 13 runs after an 8-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday afternoon. “We have a very good, talented team,” Cleveland first baseman-designated hitter Carlos Santana told mlb.com. “I know we aren’t hitting well right now, but it’s a long season. We’re fighting. Any day, any game. … (Thursday) is a new series and we’ll see what happens.” Trevor Bauer will try to match the dominant effort from his first start of the season and give the Indians’ offense time to get going when he takes the mound against Sanchez, who looked like he was close to his 2016 form over the weekend while notching a victory.

• The Blue Jays avoided a three-game sweep with a 5-3 victory over Baltimore on Wednesday as Randal Grichuk belted a pair of solo homers, starting in center field after Kevin Pillar was traded to San Francisco on Tuesday. Grichuk, who also signed a five-year, 52-million contract Tuesday, is 5-for-21 with three blasts, six runs scored and four RBIs in the early going as Toronto won three of seven to open the season at home.

• Sanchez ran his pitch count up to 90 and was limited to five innings in his season debut Saturday, but he did not allow a run on three hits and three walks before leaving. The 26-year-old California native struggled with various injuries the last two years while making just 28 starts combined after his 15-2 breakout season in 2016. Jose Ramirez is 2-for-5 against Sanchez, who is 1-0 with a 5.06 ERA in three career games (two starts) against the Indians although he has not faced them since 2016.

• Bauer was outstanding in his first start of the season last Saturday, permitting one run on one hit with nine strikeouts and one walk over seven innings without being involved in the decision. The 28-year-old UCLA product, who threw 108 pitches in his season debut, was 6-1 with a 1.84 ERA in 13 starts at home in 2018. Freddy Galvis is 1-for-2 with a homer and Justin Smoak is 3-for-9 with three RBIs versus Bauer, who is 2-2 with a 6.07 ERA in six career games (five starts) against Toronto.

• Toronto 2B Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had a pair of hits Wednesday after going 0-for-15 with seven strikeouts in his first four games of the season.

• Cleveland 2B Jason Kipnis (calf strain) is schedule to start a rehab assignment at Triple-A Columbus on Friday

• The Indians signed manager Terry Francona to a two-year extension Wednesday that will keep him under contract through 2022.