BLUE JAYS at TIGERS RH Sanchez vs. RH Verlander TV: Sportsnet, 7 p.m. Jays-Tigers series preview,

COMERICA PARK FRIDAY, 7 p.m. RH Aaron Sanchez (0-2, 4.85) vs. RH Justin Verlander (5-6, 4.73) SATURDAY, 6 p.m. LH Francisco Liriano (5-5, 5.56) vs. RH Michael Fulmer (9-6, 3.19) SUNDAY, 1 p.m. RH Marco Estrada (4-6, 5.77) vs. RH Anibal Sanchez (1-0, 5.89) TV: Sportsnet

RADIO: Sportsnet 590 The FAN KEY PLAYERS Smoak/Cabrera Blue Jay Justin Smoak was voted the starting first baseman for Tuesday’s all-star game, normally a spot reserved for Tigers slugger Miguel

Cabrera. A former MVP and Triple Crown winner, Cabrera has had an emotionally draining first half that has contributed to reduced offensive production. The tumult in his home country of Venezuela has led to threats of violence against his family back home, according to multiple reports. Smoak ranks second in homers among AL first basemen (23), fifth in batting average (.294) and first in on-base-plus-slugging (.936). His home runs are the most ever by a Jays switch-hitter prior to the break. Cabrera remains a force for the Tigers at home. At Comerica Park he has a career .334 average in 731 games, with 164 homers, 552 RBIs and a 1.008 OPS. NEED TO KNOW The Blue Jays open a 10-game, 10-day road trip through Detroit, Boston (four) and Cleveland (three). They’ll play 19 of the next 23 games outside the AL East. . . . The Jays are 4-5 in July. . . . They were 4-3 vs. the Tigers last year. Over the past eight years, the Jays have had just one winning season at Comerica. ON DECK In Boston for four starting Monday. Richard Griffin