Jays turn to Max Scherzer to keep Cardinals in downward spiral

The Toronto Blue Jays will be going for a sweep Sunday afternoon in the finale of a three-game series with the visiting St. Louis Cardinals.

The Blue Jays clinched the series with a 5-1 victory Saturday afternoon. Right-hander Kevin Gausman earned the win in what could have been his farewell performance for the Blue Jays with the Monday trade deadline looming.

Gausman allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings and left the mound in the sixth to a standing ovation.

"What a cool moment," Gausman said. "The fans have done a lot of cool moments for me since I've been here, but that was definitely up there."

The Blue Jays have won three straight and are assured of winning their second successive series.

"We're getting hits when we need them," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. "I love the way we have played."

The Blue Jays enter Sunday 3 1/2 games out of the third and final American League wild-card spot.

"We're still in it," Blue Jays center fielder Daulton Varsho said. "It's not like we're 10 1/2 games back. We've got to keep our heads down, keep grinding, keep playing good baseball and see where the year ends up. ... on paper, we're still a really good team, we've just got to prove it every night."

Matthew Liberatore (5-8, 5.26 ERA) is the probable starter for the Cardinals and gives them a chance to salvage a win and stop a three-game losing streak. The left-hander is 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA in two career outings (one start) against the Blue Jays.

Max Scherzer (1-4, 9.49) is slated to make his second start Sunday since coming off the injured list (back spasms, thumb injury). He needed 75 pitches to navigate 2 2/3 innings July 27 -- his 42nd birthday -- against the host Washington Nationals, allowing one run, four hits and three walks with four strikeouts. The right-hander is 5-7 with a 2.66 ERA in 16 career starts against the Cardinals.

St. Louis enters Sunday four games out of the NL's third wild-card spot and has four wins in its past 16 games.

The Cardinals have scored three or fewer runs in their past seven games, going 1-6.

"You're looking early in the year, several guys were really hot, and they did a nice job of just driving the baseball. More slug," Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said.

"Right now, that's just not the case at the top of the lineup. I believe they'll get back to that, but they're at a part of the year where that's just not happening. They're working hard, and they're trying to get back to feeling good about their swings. But it's just part of a long season, especially when you have a young group. There are going to be some inconsistencies there."

The Cardinals outhit the Blue Jays 11-9 on Saturday but stranded 11 runners in going 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

"I know it's been tough for us lately," said Cardinals All-Star right fielder Jordan Walker, who is 3-for-9 with an RBI in the first two games in Toronto. "I mean, that's no secret. They've been tough. We haven't come through, but we're going to keep our heads up, and we're going to keep going."

Cardinals left-hander Quinn Matthews was promoted from Triple-A Memphis to make his major league debut Saturday, and he allowed two runs in five-plus innings.

Right-hander Matt Svanson was optioned to Memphis and right-hander Tink Hence was designated for assignment in the corresponding moves.

--Field Level Media