Chris Bassitt has endured his fair share of struggles away from Rogers Centre this season.
Bassitt is 8-0 with a 2.73 ERA at home, but just 3-6 with a 6.39 ERA on the road.
The Pirates counter with righty Johan Oviedo, who makes just his second start of the season after missing all of 2024 because of Tommy John surgery.
Oviedo’s first start didn’t last long, as he went one inning while giving up two runs on two hits on Aug. 4 against the San Francisco Giants. He was sent to triple-A Indianapolis following that outing.
The Blue Jays won 7-3 on Tuesday to tie the series at 1-1 before a healthy contingent of Toronto fans in Pittsburgh. Max Scherzer went six innings for the win and George Springer belted a two-run home run.
The Blue Jays, who are an MLB-best 25-13 in interleague games, enter play Thursday five games up on the New York Yankees and six ahead of the Boston Red Sox for first in the American League East.
The Pirates have lost eight of 10 and are stuck in the basement of the National League Central.
The Blue Jays have an off-day Thursday before Shane Bieber makes his Toronto debut on Friday in Miami against the Marlins.
