Series Preview: Blue Jays Look to Pillage the Royals

Jul 5, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher

(25) pitches in the second inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Game 1: Marco Estrada (6-4, 3.59 ERA) vs Danny Duffy (2-4, 5.14 ERA)

Estrada is continuing to baffle hitters and his own teammates. He is limiting the number of home runs allowed and is getting more groundballs as well and it is paying off. He tends to ride high pitch counts and thus doesn’t go very deep into games but he is doing a great job so far. Does this secure him with a spot in the rotation for the rest of the season? Well if the Blue Jays continue to keep Derek Norris in the minors then yes. If they make a trade for a starter he wouldn’t be the first one asked to leave the rotation (hello Felix Doubront). If he resorts back to the guy he was when he was with Milwaukee (aka the champeen of the world in giving up home runs) then Felix might edge him out.

Danny DUffy is in the starting rotation by default it seems. He owns an 11.42 ERA against the Blue Jays and is trying to fight his way back from his stint on the DL three starts ago. His 3.90 ERA going into this season shows he has the stuff to stay in the rotation but he needs to get there soon. With the Royals leading a very competitive AL Central they can’t afford to throw games away with bad starting pitching. If the Royals pick up an arm on the trade market you could see him shuffled to the pen. Until then he is getting the chance to bring himself back to where he was before 2015.