On Friday, June 13, 2025, baseball fans are treated to an exciting interleague matchup as the Toronto Blue Jays visit the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. ET, with the game airing on Sportsnet and NBCSP, and available for streaming on MLB.TV and NBCSP’s digital platforms. Both teams enter this series with contrasting momentum, setting the stage for a compelling showdown between two of Major League Baseball’s competitive clubs.
The Blue Jays, boasting a 38-30 record, have been the hottest team in baseball lately. They have won an impressive 22 of their last 32 games and come into Philadelphia riding a wave of success, having swept the St. Louis Cardinals in their last series. Toronto has also won eight of their last ten games, including a three-game winning streak heading into this series. Their recent road trip has been fruitful, with a 5-1 record, showcasing a lineup that is both powerful and disciplined.
On the other side, the Phillies hold a 39-29 record and have faced some challenges recently, losing 10 of their last 13 games. However, they managed to snap their slump with a series win against the Chicago Cubs earlier this week, suggesting the team might be regaining its footing. Philadelphia remains a solid contender in the National League with the fourth-best record, sitting 10 games above .500. Despite the recent struggles, the Phillies’ resilience and home-field advantage at the acclaimed Citizens Bank Park, which USA TODAY 10BEST recently named the best stadium, give them plenty of reasons for optimism.
Friday’s pitching matchup features Toronto’s right-hander Kevin Gausman against Philadelphia’s lefty Ranger Suárez. Gausman comes into the game with a 5-4 record and a 3.87 ERA. His last outing on June 7 against Minnesota saw him pitch six innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits, walking three, and striking out five. While Gausman’s fastball velocity has rebounded to 2023 levels after a dip in 2024, and his swinging strike rate is a respectable 12.2%, he is currently striking out fewer than a batter per inning. His 3.53 SIERA and 3.40 FIP suggest solid, if not spectacular, performance. In his last four starts, Gausman has delivered three quality starts, maintaining his reputation as a reliable ace, though the days of Cy Young-level dominance may be behind him.
Ranger Suárez, meanwhile, has been a revelation for the Phillies this season. Sporting a 4-1 record and a 2.70 ERA, Suárez has been particularly stingy since a rough start on May 4, when he was hit hard by the Diamondbacks, giving up seven earned runs in just 3.2 innings. Since then, he has posted a remarkable 1.36 ERA and a 2.87 FIP over 39.2 innings, allowing one earned run or fewer in four of his six starts. Suárez’s career ERA since 2021 stands at a solid 3.23, placing him in the company of top-tier pitchers like Gerrit Cole and Kevin Gausman. While he may not dazzle with overpowering velocity or strikeout totals, Suárez’s command and consistency make him a formidable opponent for any lineup.
The Blue Jays’ offense is firing on all cylinders, especially against left-handed pitching. Since May 1, Toronto leads the league with a .271 team batting average and boasts the lowest strikeout rate at 16.8%. They are also one of only seven teams to hit at least 50 home runs during this stretch, demonstrating a blend of power and contact hitting. Their weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+) of 121 leads the American League, and against lefties specifically, they maintain a 121 wRC+, the second-best mark in MLB. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been the standout performer in these matchups, posting an eye-popping .485 expected weighted On-Base Average (wOBA) in 62 plate appearances against southpaws. Additionally, utility infielder Ernie Clement has emerged as a top platoon bat, slashing an impressive .400/.448/.750 against left-handed pitchers.
Philadelphia’s offense, while less prolific recently, features key contributors like Trea Turner, who is riding a four-game hitting streak, going 5-for-15. The Phillies’ lineup will need to capitalize on scoring opportunities against Gausman if they want to turn the tide in this series opener.
Betting markets currently favor the Phillies with a moneyline of -135, while the Blue Jays sit at +113. The run line has Philadelphia at -1.5, and the total runs are set at 8.0. Interestingly, the Phillies’ last four games with Ranger Suárez on the mound have gone under the total, reflecting the pitcher’s ability to keep games low-scoring. Conversely, the Blue Jays have covered the spread in four of their last five games, showing strong offensive production and resilience.
Expert predictions are mixed but insightful. NBC Sports Bet leans towards a play against the spread on the Blue Jays at +1.5, given their recent hot streak and offensive prowess. They also recommend betting the over on the total runs, expecting both teams to put up runs in what could be a lively contest. On the other hand, some analysis points to the “Interleague Under Edge” system, which historically favors unders in interleague matchups between quality teams with totals set between 7 and 10 runs. This system, boasting a 56.5% all-time winning percentage and a 58% mark in 2025, suggests the game could be a tighter, more disciplined affair, with the under 8 runs as the best bet.
For fans eager to catch the action, the game will be broadcast on NBCSP, with radio coverage on 94WIP and WDEL 101.7 FM/1150 AM. Streaming options include the NBCSP app and website for viewers in the Philadelphia market, as well as MLB.TV for broader audiences. The game’s availability on multiple platforms ensures no fan misses a moment of this exciting series opener.
As the Blue Jays and Phillies face off, the stakes are high. Toronto aims to extend its winning ways and continue asserting itself as a powerhouse in the American League, while Philadelphia looks to rebound from recent struggles and leverage home-field advantage to climb back into National League contention. With strong pitching matchups, dynamic offenses, and a rich backdrop of recent performances, Friday night’s game promises to deliver plenty of drama and excitement under the bright lights of Citizens Bank Park.
