Key cogs likely to return for Jays in Canada Day clash vs. Mets

Infielders Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Kazuma Okamoto are expected to return to the Toronto Blue Jays' lineup Wednesday afternoon for the rubber match of the team's three-game series against the visiting New York Mets.

The series will conclude on Canada Day and will end a disappointing 10-game homestand for the Blue Jays, who are 2-7 in the stretch they hoped would turn their season around.

The Mets won 3-0 on Tuesday as Guerrero and Okamoto sat out. Guerrero was a late scratch with tightness in his back while Okamoto was given a scheduled day off.

Guerrero has struggled this season, batting .268 with four home runs and 34 RBIs. In June, he batted .198 with one homer and 10 RBIs.

"He was tight swinging, and I don't want to push it with him," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. "Obviously, he's been working a lot, and that kind of plays into how he's feeling. He's taken a lot of swings over the past week, week and a half."

Schneider said he feels Guerrero is close to regaining his good form.

"I think he's where we want him to be, so I didn't set him back," Schneider said on Tuesday. "So in talking to him, he doesn't want to miss tomorrow, either. He got some treatment and some rest. I think all signs point to positive."

Okamoto is batting .236 this season, with 19 homers and 53 RBIs.

The Mets are expected to start Freddy Peralta (5-6, 4.53 ERA) on Wednesday. The right-hander is 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA in two career starts against Toronto.

The Blue Jays initially named left-hander Patrick Corbin (2-4, 5.09) as their starter on Canada Day, but it was decided Tuesday that he will be moved to the bullpen.

"He gets it," Schneider said. "He's done that before. He understands."

Right-hander Braydon Fisher (3-3, 3.48 ERA) is expected to act as the opener on Wednesday. Right-hander Spencer Miles (3-1, 3.00) likely will follow, with neither previously having faced the Mets.

The Mets won for only the second time in 11 games on Tuesday, with Nolan McLean striking out seven in six innings.

Devin Williams pitched the ninth to earn his 12th save after Luke Weaver pitched a perfect eighth. Weaver extended his scoreless streak to 24 innings over 22 games dating to April 30.

"It's attack, it's confidence, it's filling up the strike zone with his fastball early, and then the changeup can really play at that point in time," Mets interim manager Andy Green said. "He's had elite command, elite stuff, and that usually leads to really good results."

The Mets had solo homers from their catching tandem of Francisco Alvarez, who was DH on Tuesday, and Luis Torrens, who was behind the plate.

It was the second homer of the season for Torrens. Alvarez hit his ninth of the season and the fifth since returning from a knee injury on June 9.

"I've been feeling really good," Alvarez said. "But I also think I've got to keep working and keep getting better."

Said Green: "It's a damage bat. Getting Alvy's bat going, he can do some things that we don't really have any other right-handed bats that can do. So it's huge to see him do that."

Former Blue Jay Bo Bichette was 1-for-4 and played a strong game at third base. He made the conversion to third after playing shortstop for Toronto.

--Field Level Media