Series preview: Braves at Blue Jays

ROGERS CENTRE

TV: Sportsnet (Tuesday), Facebook (Wednesday) Radio: Sportsnet 590 The FAN

PROBABLES

Tuesday, 7 p.m. RH Mike Soroka (2-1, 2.57) vs. LH Jaime Garcia (2-5, 5.71) Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. RH Anibal Sanchez (3-0, 1.93) vs. LH J.A. Happ (8-3, 3.48)

KEY PLAYERS

Freeman/Smoak The last time Freddie Freeman played against the Blue Jays last May, he was hit by a pitch from Aaron Loup and suffered a fractured wrist that kept him out for almost seven weeks. He leads the Braves in nearly every offensive category this season, with 49 RBIs, a .337 average and a 1.012 OPS. His counterpart at first base in Toronto, Justin Smoak, is scuffling a bit of late, going 2-for-34 since June 6, but he is still second on the Jays in RBIs (34) and OBP (.356). Smoak was given the day off Sunday against Washington.

NEED TO KNOW

The Braves come into the series with a 5-1 record in their last six games ... Atlanta catcher Kurt Suzuki was struck in the head by a backswing from ex-Jay Raffy Lopez on Sunday in a game against the San Diego Padres but is expected to be back in the lineup Tuesday ... Jays outfielder Steve Pearce (oblique) was 3-for-5 with two walks in two rehab games with Triple-A Buffalo over the weekend ... Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson has now missed 17 games with left calf tightness, two games shy of the count he missed earlier this season with right shoulder inflammation.

ON DECK

Four games at the Los Angeles Angels, starting Thursday. Laura Armstrong