Diamondbacks play the Blue Jays in first of 3-game series

Audio By Carbonatix

Toronto Blue Jays (7-11, fifth in the AL East) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (11-8, third in the NL West)

Phoenix; Friday, 9:40 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Blue Jays: Eric Lauer (1-2, 7.82 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 12 strikeouts); Diamondbacks: Mike Soroka (3-0, 2.87 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 23 strikeouts)

LINE: Diamondbacks -139, Blue Jays +117; over/under is 9 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Arizona Diamondbacks host the Toronto Blue Jays to start a three-game series.

Arizona is 11-8 overall and 5-2 at home. The Diamondbacks are 5-1 in games when they did not give up a home run.

Toronto has gone 1-5 on the road and 7-11 overall. The Blue Jays are 5-1 in games when they scored at least five runs.

The teams meet Friday for the first time this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Ketel Marte leads the Diamondbacks with four home runs while slugging .408. Ildemaro Vargas is 15 for 40 with five doubles, a triple, a home run and seven RBIs over the last 10 games.

Andres Gimenez has two doubles, a triple and three home runs for the Blue Jays. Daulton Varsho is 13 for 39 with three doubles, three home runs and six RBIs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Diamondbacks: 7-3, .264 batting average, 3.40 ERA, outscored opponents by 14 runs

Blue Jays: 3-7, .239 batting average, 5.22 ERA, outscored by 20 runs

INJURIES: Diamondbacks: Pavin Smith: 60-Day IL (elbow), Gabriel Moreno: 10-Day IL (back), Carlos Santana: 10-Day IL (groin), Jordan Lawlar: 60-Day IL (wrist), Tyler Locklear: 10-Day IL (elbow), Cristian Mena: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Lourdes Gurriel Jr.: 10-Day IL (knee), Blake Walston: 60-Day IL (elbow), A.J. Puk: 60-Day IL (elbow), Andrew Saalfrank: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Corbin Burnes: 60-Day IL (elbow), Justin Martinez: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Blue Jays: Shane Bieber: 60-Day IL (elbow), George Springer: 10-Day IL (toe), Addison Barger: 10-Day IL (ankle), Cody Ponce: 60-Day IL (knee), Anthony Santander: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alejandro Kirk: 10-Day IL (hand), Jose Berrios: 15-Day IL (elbow), Yimi Garcia: 15-Day IL (elbow), Trey Yesavage: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Bowden Francis: 60-Day IL (elbow)

___

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