Off-Topic » The Red Sox had an AL-worst 4.84 ERA

TORONTO — The Philadelphia Phillies are an example of how a team can turn things around from one season to the next.That should provide some encouraging new to fans at the Rogers Centre who have watched the Toronto Blue Jays struggle this season and last after reaching the American League Championship Series in 2015-16.The Phillies (69-58) Salvador Perez Jersey , who open a three-game interleague series against the Blue Jays (58-69) on Friday night, are still in contention in the National League East.Article continues below ...Right-hander Jake Arrieta (9-8, 3.25 ERA) will take the mound for the Phillies in the opener and he will oppose Blue Jays rookie left-hander Ryan Borucki (2-3, 4.27).Arrieta has not faced the Blue Jays this season and is 4-2 with a 4.85 ERA in eight career games (seven starts) against them.Borucki has never pitched against the Phillies.Philadelphia stopped a four-game losing streak Thursday afternoon with a 2-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on a two-run homer by Odubel Herrera and superb pitching from Aaron Nola.The Phillies already have surpassed their win total from last season when they won 66 games. This season, they won their 66th game on Aug. 15.The Blue Jays, meanwhile, are in a rebuilding phase, or as general manager Ross Atkins puts it, transitioning. Whatever terminology is used http://www.royalsfanproshop.com/authentic-brandon-moss-jersey , the Blue Jays have played poorly this season and can be thankful that the Baltimore Orioles are even worse.The Blue Jays completed a three-game sweep of the Orioles with a 6-0 victory on Wednesday afternoon with left-hander Thomas Pannone losing a no-hitter in the seventh inning in his first major-league start. The Blue Jays are 12-1 this season against the Orioles and 10-0 against them at home.This is the second meeting of the season between the Phillies and Blue Jays. Toronto won two of three games on May 25-27 in Philadelphia. One of the winning pitchers for the Blue Jays was J.A. Happ, who was traded to the New York Yankees last month.The Phillies recalled catcher Andrew Knapp from Triple-A Lehigh Valley before their game Thursday and put first baseman Justin Bour (left oblique strain) and right-hander Edubray Ramos (right index finger) on the 10-day disabled list.Phillies catcher Wilson Ramos (sore left wrist) said he hopes to return to action Friday. He missed the past three games after taking a pitch off a wrist while behind the plate and aggravated it swinging the bat Sunday. He had an MRI.“So far, the results of the MRI are good,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said Wednesday. “We’ll monitor how he’s feeling and be prepared to read and react. As of right now, he’s good.”“It’s a little sore, but I can play with it sore,” said Ramos, who was obtained in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays last month.At the time of the trade, Ramos was on the DL with a strained hamstring. After being activated Bo Jackson Jersey , he had seven hits in 17 at-bats (.412) in four games, including four doubles and a triple with four RBIs.The Blue Jays should have their rookie infielder Lourdes Gurriel (sprained left ankle) back in the lineup this weekend, possibly Friday. He has been on the disabled list since July 30.When Gurriel returns, he will be trying to prolong a streak of 11 straight games with at least two hits.Blue Jays designated hitter Kendrys Morales also will take a streak into Friday. He has homered in a career-best four straight games, for a total of five. Toronto expects to have right-hander Aaron Sanchez back in the starting rotation beginning Saturday. He injured his right middle index finger when it was caught in his falling suitcase.“The bag started falling, it happened all in a span of 30 seconds,” he said. “I pulled my finger, I said ‘ow.’ My knuckle got super fat. I pitched that day (at Anaheim), it probably didn’t help. But it was the first time I was going to pitch in front of my family as a professional. And I wanted to see what I could do.”Sanchez lasted one inning in the June 21 start against the Los Angeles Angels Paulo Orlando Jersey , allowing two runs, and has been on the disabled list since. A look at what’s happening around the majors today:OPENER FOR THE OPENERThe Brewers will begin their NL Division Series against the Rockies with a bullpen game at Miller Park. Manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday he had not decided on the order of his relievers. The group will almost certainly include All-Star left-hander Josh Hader, though Colorado will have a tough test start to finish — Milwaukee led the majors with a 1.98 bullpen ERA in September.Colorado counters with Antonio Senzatela, a right-hander who is 6-6 with a 4.38 ERA in 23 games, including 13 starts. It will be the postseason debut for the 23-year-old.THE ACE AWAITSThe Braves and Dodgers open their NLDS in Los Angeles, and Atlanta has a chance to jump ahead before facing Clayton Kershaw in Game 2. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts decided to hold back his ace left-hander and will instead start Hyun-Jin Ryu in Game 1. The left-handed Ryu was 7-3 with a 1.97 ERA in 15 starts this season.Mike Foltynewicz is up for the Braves. The hard-throwing right-hander put it all together this season, posting career bests with a 2.85 ERA over 183 innings. Atlanta might be without shortstop Dansby Swanson, who appears a long shot to make the team’s roster after partially tearing a ligament in his left hand last month.RIVALRY RENEWEDThe Yankees are headed up to Fenway Park ahead of their AL Division Series opener against the Red Sox on Friday night. It’s the first time New York and Boston will clash in the postseason since the 2004 AL Championship Series. The Yankees beat the Athletics 7-2 Wednesday night in the AL wild-card game to set up the AL East showdown.Boston manager Alex Cora said Wednesday he was still deciding on his bullpen alignment for the ALDS. He has two spots available to righties Joe Kelly, Heath Hembree http://www.royalsfanproshop.com/authentic-danny-duffy-jersey , Brandon Workman and lefty Bobby Poyner. Relief was the biggest weakness for the team while it won a franchise-record 108 games. The Red Sox had an AL-worst 4.84 ERA in September.TAKE YOUR PICKRajai Davis has his name cemented in October baseball lore, but it might not be on Cleveland’s playoff roster this year. Indians manager Terry Francona has one spot left on his 25-man roster for the AL Division Series against the Houston Astros and it will go to either Davis or utility infielder Erik Gonzalez.“We’re debating the last spot,” Francona said Wednesday. “We’re going back and forth.”The Indians will open the ALDS in Houston on Friday and Francona must submit his roster to Major League Baseball by 10 a.m. that morning for the best-of-five series.SUSPENDEDAddison Russell’s future with the Cubs is in question after Major League Baseball suspended the Chicago shortstop 40 games for violating the league’s domestic violence policy after a series of allegations made by his ex-wife. Russell’s unpaid suspension includes the 11 regular-season games he missed after being placed on administrative leave Sept. 21.Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said he’s not sure what the odds are of Russell playing another game for the Cubs.“Domestic violence is everyone’s problem,” he said. “Because of that, we all have an obligation to be part of the solution as well. The discipline in a case like this is part of the solution going forward and so we support Major League Baseball’s decision and we think it’s appropriate. But prevention is also a big part of the solution and maybe a more important solution.”PASSING THE BUCKThe Orioles are beginning a search for a new manager and general manager a day after firing Buck Showalter and Dan Duquette. Baltimore staggered through its worst season since the team moved to Baltimore in 1954, losing a franchise-record 115 games. The club wants fresh faces to take over a potentially long rebuilding project. Director of Player Development Brian Graham will handle day-to-day oversight of baseball operations while the Orioles search for Duquette’s successor.