Blue Jays Series Preview: Jays Need to Harpoon the Mariners

May 19, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher

(41) delivers a pitch against Los Angeles Angels. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Game 3:  Taijuan Walker (1-4, 7.47 ERA) vs Aaron Sanchez (3-4, 4.17 ERA)

It’s a battle of the young and much heralded kids for both sides. Walker seemed primed for a breakout campaign (5 starts, 2.61 ERA in 2014). He and Paxton were supposed to be able to keep the ball rolling after Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma. Walker has been nothing short of terrible. He is still young and his background says he will bounce back but facing the loaded Blue Jays lineup doesn’t seem the best way to start a turnaround. This could get ugly for Walker in a hurry.

Aaron Sanchez, on the other hand, seems to get better each time he hits the mound. It was rough early and his walks/innings pitched is pretty awful (32/45.1) and he has walked two more than he has struck out so far this season. But if you look closer, his BAA against is a pretty good .228 and he has 4 starts in a row where his walks per game has gone down (from 6 to 3 currently over 4 starts). He has hit his stride I think and he will give the Mariners a tough day at the ballpark.