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TORONTO — A year ago at this time Authentic Marshall Newhouse Jersey , Francisco Liriano was pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays amid speculation that he would be traded.

The left-hander is again a subject of trade speculation as he returns to the Rogers Centre on Friday night as the starting pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, who will try to end a nine-game losing streak in the opener of a four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Tigers (36-46) lost 4-2 to the Oakland Athletics at Comerica Park on Thursday afternoon. The Blue Jays (37-43) had the day off after completing a 3-4 trip with a heartbreaking 7-6 loss to the Houston Astros on Wednesday on Alex Bregman’s two-run, walk-off homer.

Both teams are expected to trade some veteran players by the July 31 deadline for deals without waivers.

Liriano (3-3, 3.94 ERA) will face Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman (0-5, 6.80). Both pitchers will make their second start after returning from the disabled list.

The Blue Jays did trade Liriano on July 31 to the Astros, who went on to win the World Series. In the deal, Toronto received outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, who has become a regular.

Liriano signed with the Tigers as a free agent on Feb. 23.

He will make his 12th start of the season in the series opener. Liriano went on the DL with a strained right hamstring after making his start on May 26 and did not pitch again until Saturday when he took the loss at Cleveland, allowing three runs (two earned), four hits and three walks in four innings.

All of the runs came in a 40-pitch first inning. He did not allow another hit in the next three innings.

“I was rushing things,” Liriano said. “I hadn’t pitched in a while and I was trying to do too much, trying to do more than I can do, and I ended up missing pitches. … Everything feels great. Leg feels good, body feels nice.”

The 34-year-old has faced the Blue Jays seven times in his career, including five starts, going 1-4 with a 5.40 ERA. He last pitched against Toronto on Aug. 5 with Houston when he took the loss after allowing one run, one hit and one walk in two-thirds of an inning in relief.

In 18 career appearances, including 17 starts, at the Rogers Centre Authentic Marquis Haynes Jersey , Liriano is 8-4 record with a 4.03 ERA and 98 strikeouts.

Stroman also returned from the DL on Saturday when he allowed six hits and one walk while striking out five in five scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Angels. He did not factor in the decision of a game the Blue Jays won 4-1.

He had not pitched since May 8 because of inflammation in his right shoulder, a problem that shortened his spring training. Stroman believes that in retrospect he probably should have taken a couple of more weeks to build up the shoulder before starting to pitch in the regular season.

“When I’m going good, I feel like I’m pitching at 80, 85 percent and that’s where I’m at right now,” Stroman said. “Earlier in the season, I was max effort, I was pitching at 100 percent every pitch and now I’m back to being very free and easy. Once I’m free and easy, I can do whatever I want.”

Stroman said the shoulder “feels way better.”

“I’m moving way easier, I can pause, I can mess with my delivery now, I can do many things I wasn’t able to do previously in the year,” he added. “Feels great.”

In two career starts against the Tigers, he is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA.

The Tigers won two of three games against the Blue Jays at Comerica Park on June 1-3. Detroit will try to win its first season series against Toronto since 2013. The Tigers lost two of three games at the Rogers Centre last season, the fourth straight series they have dropped in Toronto.

Christian Yelich stayed in the game after he was hit on the left knee by Mike Foltynewicz. He tested his legs with an easy jog around the bases.

Yelich and Eric Thames scored on Jesus Aguilar’s towering drive to center, capping a five-run third inning and sending the Milwaukee Brewers to a 5-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night.

Aguilar’s 20th homer traveled an estimated 433 feet.

”It was a good one,” Aguilar said. ”I was just waiting for one pitch. Thankfully, I got it.”

Tyler Saladino also homered for the Brewers, who have won five straight to extend their NL Central lead to 2 1/2 games over the second-place Cubs.

Rookie Freddy Peralta (4-1) struck out six while pitching six innings of one-run ball. The rookie right-hander has turned into a vital piece of Milwaukee’s rotation.

”Every start you learn something,” he said.

After Peralta departed Authentic Cordy Glenn Jersey , Atlanta rallied for three runs in the seventh off Jacob Barnes. But the Braves’ rally faltered when they failed to score with two on and no out after Dan Jennings replaced Barnes, and then left two on with one out in the eighth against Jeremy Jeffress.

”We were a productive out away from tying the game,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. ”We didn’t even need a hit.”

Corey Knebel worked around a one-out single in the ninth for his 11th save.

Atlanta has lost a season-high four straight and fell into a virtual tie with Philadelphia atop the NL East, with the Phillies leading by percentage points.

Foltynewicz (6-5) had allowed five runs over his previous nine starts. He allowed that many in the span of six hitters in the third.

Saladino’s two-run shot was his first following a five-week stint on the disabled list due to a sprained left ankle. After Peralta struck out and Thames singled, Yelich was hit by a breaking ball on the inside of his knee.

When Yelich reached first, Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman kissed his own hand and playfully massaged Yelich’s left knee.

Yelich and the Brewers felt better moments later, thanks to Aguilar.

”I left that pitch right over the middle,” said Foltynewicz, who struck out seven in six innings. ”His bat path ran right into it.”

FOLTYNEWICZ FALTERS

Foltynewicz was again felled by one inning. On May 4, he gave up six runs in the second inning against the Giants. In his 93 other innings this season, he has a 1.35 ERA.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Braves: LHP Max Fried was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a blister on the middle finger of his throwing hand. RHP Evan Phillips was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett. … OF Ronald Acuna Jr. left in the seventh with left groin tightness after beating out an infield single. He was replaced by Charlie Culberson and is day to day.

Brewers: LHP Brent Suter was placed on the 10-day disabled list with left forearm tightness. RHP Aaron Wilkerson was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs. … RHP Zach Davies‘ recovery from a sore shoulder hit another snag Friday when his back tightened up during a throwing session.

TURANG TAKES OFFER

The Brewers announced they had signed first-round draft pick Brice Turang. The prep shortstop had committed to play at LSU. His father, Brian, was originally drafted by the Brewers in 1987 but did not sign.

STEWART DOES NOT

The Braves failed to sign the eighth overall pick, right-hander Carter Stewart. Atlanta will now receive the ninth pick in the 2019 draft as compensation.

UP NEXT

Braves: Anibal Sanchez (3-2, 2.89 ERA) gets the ball on Saturday. He has pitched well this season, but carries a 6.37 ERA in eight career starts against the Brewers.

Brewers: With Milwaukee’s starting rotation thinned due to injury, Wilkerson will take the mound for his first start this season and third of his career.