George Springer looks to stay hot as Blue Jays, Reds open series

Toronto Blue Jays sluggers George Springer and Bo Bichette have been swinging hot bats since the All-Star break.

Unfortunately for the Blue Jays, right-hander Chris Bassitt hasn't been as fortunate with his recent results from the mound.

Springer and Bichette will look to continue their torrid ways, while Bassitt will aim to bounce back from a winless August, when the visiting Blue Jays play the opener of a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday afternoon.

Springer ripped an RBI double among his two hits as Toronto recorded an 8-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday to salvage the finale of a three-game series. He is batting .390 (39-for-100) with eight homers and 15 RBIs since the All-Star break.

Bichette, in turn, is hitting .359 (61-for-170) over that same stretch. His career-best 14-game hit streak came to a halt with his 0-for-4 performance on Sunday.

For all of the positives, there are some negatives in the form of a six-game winless stretch for Bassitt (11-7, 4.14 ERA). He hasn't pitched poorly, however, as he has yielded three runs or fewer in five of those six outings.

Bassitt, 36, is 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA in three career appearances (all starts) versus Cincinnati.

The Reds enter this series having snapped a five-game losing skid with a 7-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.

Matt McLain hit his second home run in as many games and Austin Hays also went deep to break a tie in the fifth. Cincinnati's second win in the last 10 games moved the team within four games of the New York Mets for the National League's final wild-card spot.

"From here on out, they're all must-win games," McLain said, per the Cincinnati Enquirer. "So, every day is as important as the next and the one before, so good win (on Sunday) but got to win tomorrow."

The Reds will need to avoid looking ahead to their three-game series against the Mets, which begins Friday.

For now, Cincinnati turns to right-hander Hunter Greene (5-4, 2.81) to start on Monday.

Greene, 26, surrendered five runs (three earned) on six hits -- including two homers -- in five innings of a 7-0 setback to the Los Angeles Dodgers last Monday.

He is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in two career appearances (both starts) versus Toronto.

The Blue Jays added a familiar face in utilityman Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who was claimed off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. He signed a two-year contract prior to the 2024 season, but he was traded to Pittsburgh on July 30, 2024.

"I'm happy to have Izzy back, man. He's a gamer. He's a winner," said Toronto manager John Schneider.

Cincinnati will have a new face in the dugout as MLB.com reported the team is expected to promote prized infielder Sal Stewart from Triple-A Louisville.

Stewart, 21, is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Reds' No. 1 prospect. He is batting .309 with 20 homers, 80 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 118 games between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville. The Reds selected him in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft.

--Field Level Media