Blue Jays face White Sox as playoff race intensifies

Jul 2, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Pillar (11) and Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis (29) celebrate scoring runs with Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion (10) during the second inning in a game against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

The Toronto Blue Jays head to Chicago on Monday to kick off a four game set against the White Sox. After the win on Sunday put the Blue Jays back within two games of the New York Yankees in the AL East at 43-41, the club looks to close the gap in the final week before the All Star Break.

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Chicago has endured a season of struggle thus far, already sitting 10 games back of the Kansas City Royals in the AL Central with a 36-43 record. While a series loss against the Blue Jays would surely fuel the fire, there is already widespread speculation that the Sox will be sellers at the upcoming trade deadline on July 31st. Starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija, who Shaun Doyle profiled earlier this week for Jays Journal, has already been linked to Toronto.

Samardzija will close out the series for Chicago on Thursday against R.A. Dickey, and will be preceded by John Danks, Jose Quintana and the immensely talented Chris Sale. The Jays will also counter with Mark Buehrle, Drew Hutchison and, in all likelihood, Felix Doubront making his starting debut.

At the beginning of every July series, there is a growing possibility that Toronto leaves the city with a  different roster than they entered with. The logjam of teams around the league who are still within several games of playoff contention seems to be delaying any early moves, but Anthopoulos will be busy working the phone lines. Before we break down the pitching matchups, it’s time to take a look across the diamond at the White Sox bats.

Next: Get to know the White Sox!

Jun 28, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago White Sox designated hitter Jose Abreu (79) receives congratulations from teammates after scoring in the fourth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Across the Diamond: Chicago White Sox

This series represents the widest gap in offensive production that the Major Leagues have to offer. Entering play on Sunday, Toronto led the MLB in runs scored at 450. Chicago, on the other hand, ranked dead last with just 270. What could possibly go wrong!

Chicago also ranks in the bottom third of the league in cumulative average at .242, but their greatest difficulty has been that outside of the slugging Jose Abreu, they have not hit for power. The White Sox have produced just 58 home runs, almost half of Toronto’s total, and only the New York Mets have a lower slugging percentage.

Abreu leads the team in hits, doubles, home runs and RBIs with his .292 average, and he will remain a threat at the heart of the order. Former Blue Jay Melky Cabrera was brought in to fill the bases ahead of Abreu, but despite some improvement through June, his average still sits at .258.

Next: Game 1: The White Sox are on Sale

Jul 1, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Mark Buehrle delivers a pitch against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Game 1: Monday, July 6th   –   8:10 ET

Mark Buehrle vs. Chris Sale

Buehrle has quickly become the Blue Jays most valuable starter and their only source of consistently deep outings. If his left arm could take it, John Gibbons would roll him out every single night at this point.

Over his last four starts, Buehrle has been a model of consistency. In all four, he has lasted exactly 7.0 innings while allowing 4-6 hits and 1-2 earned runs. With the offensive capabilities of Toronto, Those starts will earn Buehrle a win in the heavy majority of his outings. On the season, Buehrle now sits at 9-4 with a 3.64 ERA.

Unfortunately for Toronto, they’ll be facing one of the game’s most talented pitchers in the left-handed Chris Sale. Outside of one tough outing in late June against the Minnesota Twins, Sale has been on an absolute roll as he’s brought his ERA to 2.87 and WHIP to 0.97.

Sale will feature a fastball that sits at 93-95 MPH with a dangerous slider and very nice changeup. Toronto has hit left-handers well throughout 2015, but this game may need to be a grind-it-out win as opposed to the smash and bash style that the Jays have relied on most often.

Next: Game 2: Doubront's starting debut

Jul 3, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Felix Doubront pitches in the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers pitches at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Game 2: Tuesday, July 7th   –   8:10 ET

Felix Doubront (Probable) vs. Jose Quintana

Toronto’s revolving door at the back end of the rotation is still spinning, and the next benefactor is expected to be Felix Doubront. After being called up from AAA Buffalo recently, Doubront pitched 2.1 innings of relief on Friday against the Detroit Tigers, allowing one earned run on three hits with a strikeout.

Doubront has been impressive in Buffalo and has certainly earned the opportunity to fill the void left my the demotion of Matt Boyd as the club awaits Aaron Sanchez to return from injury. Depending on the quality of this start, health of Sanchez and performance of top prospect Daniel Norris in AAA, Doubront could stay with the MLB club as a long relief man even if his stay in the rotation is a one-off.

Jose Quintana will counter for the White Sox as he comes off an impressive win over the St. Louis Cardinals in his last start. Similar to someone like Buehrle, Quintana tends to allow his fair share of base runners, but has limited the damage well with a 3.81 ERA. His fastball tops out at approximately 92 MPH while his slider, changeup and curveball all exist in the low-to-mid 80s.

Next: Game 3: Battle of the XL ERAs

Jul 3, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons (5) takes the ball to relieve starting pitcher Drew Hutchison (36) in the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Game 3:  Wednesday, July 8th   –   8:10 ET

Drew Hutchison vs. John Danks

Remember the endless pre-season lists naming Drew Hutchinson a “breakout” candidate? Some even went as far as naming him a dark horse candidate for the AL Cy Young award. Those were simpler times.

Hutchison has laboured through start after start, offering up the odd flash on potential between long innings and short outings. His inflated record of 8-2 pairs strangely with a 5.23 ERA, but his yo-yo act has produced plenty of nights that were “good enough”.

In Hutch’s last ten outings, his earned runs allowed have been: 5, 0, 3, 0, 8, 1, 4, 0, 4, 2. Notice the pattern? Toronto will hope that this continues for this start, at least, and sends the still-talented righty to a strong start on the road.

Chicago will roll out lefty John Danks, who has also struggled early with a 4-8 record and 4.95 ERA. Danks threw 7.0 innings of shutout ball against the Baltimore Orioles, but has allowed four earned runs or more in five of his last 10 starts. The veteran will sit in the mid-to-high 80s, with his curveball offering his only significant change in velocity.

Next: Game 4: Dickey hopes to avoid Shark attack