Game Thread 23: Toronto Blue Jays (11-11) vs. Boston Red Sox (10-13)

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Mark Buehrle is currently leading the league in ERA. Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

The Toronto Blue Jays host the Boston Red Sox tonight at Rogers Centre in a game that I doubt most people around the city of Toronto will actually watch. With the Toronto Raptors headed to Brooklyn to take on the Nets for a pivotal game three of the first round of the NBA playoffs, especially after Raps’ GM Masai Ujiri’s controversial comments, expect most eyeballs (including my own) to be on the hardwood tonight.

That being said, if I would just stop talking about the Raptors already I might actually be able to give you guys a preview before this game starts. Mark Buehrle (4-0, 0.64 ERA) takes the mound and will hopefully continue to paint the outer edges of the plate, as he has in most of his innings to date. What else can be said about Buehrle? He won’t overpower you but when he’s commanding his pitches with laser-point precision it sure is fun to watch.

He’ll be up against Jake Peavy, who Blue Jays fans can probably thank for originally opening the Rogers vault, even though he never actually ended up in Toronto. As the story goes (h/t John Lott, Shi Davidi in Great Expectations) the club agreed to increase their payroll to acquire the pitcher but the deal fell through after the White Sox re-upped with Peavy. However shortly after is when the Marlins blockbuster happened, and here we are today. Peavy didn’t come close to replicating his 5.2 rWAR from 2012 last season so in hindsight it was probably a good thing that the deal never happened. How about that Mark Buehrle though?

Yes I know Buehrle will eventually come back to Earth but like I said I’m going to enjoy him leading the league in ERA as long as I can.

Toronto Blue Jays Lineup

Boston Red Sox Lineup