Kevin Gausman, who was 12-10 with a 3.35 ERA last season, will draw the start for Toronto. He went 1-1 with a 4.22 ERA in two starts against the Cardinals last season and is 1-4 with a 4.05 ERA in nine career games against St. Louis, including five starts.
Gausman could face a Cardinals lineup missing catcher Willson Contreras, who departed Thursday's game with a contusion after reliever Jordan Hicks hit him in the knee with a fastball while he was crouched behind the plate. Contreras had an MRI exam, which came back clean.
The St. Louis Cardinals are banking on starting pitcher Jack Flaherty to make a strong rebound from two injury-marred seasons.
They hope that process starts Saturday when Flaherty draws the start at home against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Flaherty was 2-1 with 4.25 ERA last season in nine appearances (eight starts), after recovering from a shoulder injury. He was 9-2 with a 3.22 ERA in 2021, but he was limited to 17 appearances (15 starts) by an oblique strain that season.
Back in 2019, Flaherty was 11-8 with 2.75 ERA and could become a difference-maker for the Cardinals if he can regain his previous top-of-the-rotation form.