Toronto Blue Jays probable pitchers & starting lineups vs. Detroit Tigers, May 16

The Blue Jays can't stop dancing around the .500 mark.

After fighting back to .500 with a strong showing against the Seattle Mariners last weekend, the Blue Jays are entering the weekend a game under .500 after dropping their series finale against the Rays on Thursday.

They'll look to turn things around today when they welcome the Detroit Tigers to Rogers Centre for a three-game series. Bowden Francis gets the ball for the Blue Jays in today's series opener, where he'll go against Jack Flaherty.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. EDT, and the game will be available to stream on Sportsnet.

Toronto Blue Jays probable pitchers & starting lineups vs. Detroit Tigers, May 16

Probable starting pitchers

Bowden Francis (2-5, 5.40 ERA, 30 K) vs. Jack Flaherty (1-5, 4.61 ERA, 50 K)

After having a strong finish to 2024, Francis has struggled out of the gate so far this season. He's posted a 9.00 ERA in 14 innings over his last three starts, and is coming off a start where he allowed three runs in 6 2/3 innings against the Mariners.

Francis ranks in the fifth percentile in expected ERA and expected batting average along with being in the eighth percentile in chase rate.

His fastball has been okay this year (.229 batting average against), but batters have been feasting on his off-speed offerings. Hitters have a .282 average his split-finger and an incredible .417 batting average against his curveball. Francis' lone appearance against the Tigers was 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief in 2023.

Flaherty is back with Detroit after being traded to the Dodgers at last year's trade deadline. The former Cardinals top prospect had a 2.95 ERA for the Tigers in the first half last year before being traded to the Dodgers. He re-upped with Detroit on a two-year, $35 million deal in the offseason.

He's off to a bit of a rough start this year, and has an 8.56 ERA across his last three starts. He has a 2.35 ERA in 23 career innings against the Blue Jays, and is 2-0 at Rogers Centre.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Daulton Varsho are the only two Blue Jays to have homered against Flaherty in their careers.

Toronto Blue Jays starting lineup, May 15

• 1. SS Bo Bichette
• 2. 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• 3. CF Daulton Varsho
• 4. DH George Springer
• 5. C Alejandro Kirk
• 6. 3B Addison Barger
• 7. RF Nathan Lukes
• 8. 2B Michael Stefanic
• 9. LF Jonatan Clase

Anthony Santander's not in today's lineup after going 1-for-12 in the Blue Jays' series against the Rays. In his place is in the lineup is Varsho, who has already slugged five home runs in just 11 games.

Further down the lineup, Michael Stefanic is making his first start of the season after being called up when the team placed Andrés Giménez on the injured list.

Springer's DHing, which is why Lukes is getting a rare start in right field.