Toronto Blue Jays set for divisional clash with Rays

Jun 18, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin (55) and starting pitcher R.A. Dickey (43) walk onto the field before the game against the New York Mets at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports

Game 2: Tuesday, June 23rd  –  7:10 ET

R.A. Dickey vs Chris Archer

R.A. Dickey is expected to return to the club in Tampa after taking time to be with his family following the death of his father.  Dickey’s most recent outing came just days after he’d received the news, making his fantastic performance all the more inspiring.

With a 3-6 record Dickey has now clawed his way below the 5.00 ERA mark, but there is still a long way to go before he recaptures his old form.  This season has shown us that there is a such thing as “too much” movement on the knuckleball, which has forced Dickey into some tight situations with walks.

Tampa Bay will turn to Chris Archer in the second game, and there’s no reason to sugar-coat it: The Rays have the advantage.  Archer has stood miles above the rest of this pitching staff as he develops into the division’s top pitcher, which could leave the Blue Jays backed into a corner offensively.

Archer sits comfortably in the mid-90s with his fastball and has averaged just under eleven K/9 in 2015.  His past two starts have seen him come back to earth after being one of the league’s hottest players, however, as he’s allowed six earned runs on 13 hits over his last 12.0 innings.

Next: Finale: Estrada on sweep duty