Series Preview: Blue Jays Aim to be Pesky Against Red Sox

May 26, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher R.A. Dickey (43) prior to the start of a game against the Chicago White Sox at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Game 2: R.A. Dickey  vs Clay Buchholz (3-6, 4.07 ERA)

Dickey is what he is. Esentially the fourth starter in the rotation that logs innings and keeps the team in the game…barely. Hitters for the Red Sox have done pretty well against him….especially David Ortiz (.400 in 15 at bats). There is no real big time ownership of Dickey by the current roster of Sox but the way Dickey is going this year you can expect a couple homers in the bandbox that is Fenway Park. Just hope the wind stays calm and Dickey can keep control of his knuckle ball. If he doesn’t hit his spots (a la Mark Buehrle) it could be a bad scene for the Blue Jays Saturday afternoon.

Clay Buccholz is the enigma of the Red Sox rotation. Boomed out to a great career start with a no-hitter and a great live fastball. He still has that fastball but he can’t seem to out it where he needs to. Guys like Russell Martin (16 AB, 4 HR, 7 RBI) eat him up. He has had decent success though against two of the big sluggers Jose Bautista (45 AB, .267 BA, 4 RBI) and Edwin Encarnacion (29 AB, .207 BA, 2 HR , 4 RBI).  Aside from Martin and Encarnacion he he has given up no homers to any of the other regulars. That gives him a chance every time out. He has a 3.80 ERA in his last 7 games and overall is giving up few homers (5 all season) and a decently low number of walks (20) and a strikeout an inning. Perhaps he is turning the corner and finally harnessing his stuff. His 19.38 ERA with RISP is his big problem. get through that and this could be the game the Red Sox kill the winning streak.