Series Preview: Blue Jays Ready to Roll Over Twins

Jul 31, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (2) and starting pitcher David Price (14) and right fielder Jose Bautista (19) celebrate the win during the eleventh inning in a game against the Kansas City Royals at Rogers Centre. The Toronto Blue Jays won 7-6. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

David Price. David Price. David Price. Today marks the shortly anticipated debut of David Price. Who? DAVID PRICE! This series against the Twins was already going to be exciting in that the Blue Jays were chasing them in the Wild Card standings. They are sitting one game back of the Twins (along with the Orioles) in the fight for the WC. With the momentum from taking 3 of 4 from the Royals this past weekend it is time to get going and start to truly show the American League that the team is finally ready to make a run for the playoffs. What better way to start it off than throwing out prized acquisition Price in the first of this four game set.

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The Blue Jays are still putting up runs in bunches against some pretty good opposition, but with changes and additions made to the pitching staff, look for those big-run games to be a little more lopsided in Blue Jays favour. Case in point? The Blue Jays team ERA has finally broken through the 4.00 mark (3.99). Considering where they started this is something to be enjoyed. Something that will continue to trend in the right direction as the choices John Gibbons has in the bullpen are the best they have had all year….maybe the last couple years.

Most pundits have been surprised by how well the Twins have done this season. Their rotation was underwhelming and their everyday players seemed like a group of part-time players thrust into full-time rolls. Most were just waiting for Byron Buxton to appear and make everything aaaaaaaaall rightalltightallright. Buxton did appear and has been up and down as all rookies are. The thing keeping the Twins afloat though is their surprisingly strong pitching, especially in the rotation. With Ervin Santana joining them in recent weeks they have become that much stronger. This is no fluke. The Twins are for real.

Next: Previewing Price's big debut!

Jul 31, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher David Price (14) in the dugout before a game against the Kansas City Royals at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Game 1: Ervin Santana  (2-1, 3.78 ERA) vs David Price (9-4, 2.53 ERA)

Ervin Santana is no slouch. He has won well over 100 games in his career and most recently had a string of 15 2/3 scoreless innings snapped against the Pirates. He has a chugging fastball and gets great life on his off-speed pitches. Over the last 5 years he has started over 30 games in each of those seasons. That is durability…until he hit the restricted list this year for some….indiscretions. Like him or not, he will be a tough mound opponent for…

DAVID PRICE! You may have heard about him. The guy with a Cy Young award under his belt. The guy with a career WHIP of 1.14. The guy who some pundits have named one of the ten best pitchers in the majors right now. He is intimidating, talented and he is hitting the rubber every fifth day for the Blue Jays. He is fourth in ERA in the AL, sixth in strikeouts and eighth in WHIP. He is a true ace that the Blue Jays have needed so dearly ever since the loss of…well you know.

Next: Estrada hunts down win number nine

Jul 31, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Drew Hutchison (36) throws a pitch during the first inning in a game against the Kansas City Royals at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Game 3: Tyler Duffy (MLB Debut) vs Drew Hutchison (9-2, 5.42 ERA)

Duffy is a 5th round pick of the Twins in 2012. He has the envious spot of starting against the Blue Jays at home and facing Drew Hutchison. That alone may make the man quite happy…oh wait, Hutch is lights out at home! It will be fun to see if this kid earns himself another shot in the rotation after facing the MLB’s best offense of the Blue Jays.

As was said before, Hutch is going strong at home and so very bad away from Rogers Centre. It is such a bad split you would think the rotation would be set up to never give Hutch another start on the road this year. He has gone from our number 1 to our number 5 in about half a season. Thank goodness he is at home: WHIP Home vs Away (1.10 vs 2.00). ERA Home vs Away (2.47 vs 9.00). All that can be said is that we should be be very, very thankful Mr. Hutchison is pitching at home.

Next: Papa Buehrle closes out the series

Jul 26, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Mark Buehrle (56) throws the ball against the Seattle Mariners during the third inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Game 4: Kyle Gibson (8-8, 3.37 ERA) vs Mark Buehrle (11-5, 3.32 ERA)

Gibson has emerged as the ace of this Twins rotation. He may not have the win total but he has the stuff and the ERA to back the claim. He may not be a “true” number one, but in a rotation of 2’s and 3’s He is definitely 2a. His GO/AO is a very good 1.70 and he has a respectable WHIP of 1.25. He has faced the Blue Jays once in his career and he kind of got rocked to the tune of an OPS of a robust 1.052. He has matured and become a better pitcher since that game early in the season and should not be taken lightly.

Mark Buehrle truly is like watching a bigger, bulldogier version of Greg Maddux (look him up). The one stat that proves you don’t have to have 95MPH heat to be a success is his 1 (ONE!) walk in his last 44 2/3 innings. That, my friends, is just crazy. He pitches slow to slower but spots balls better than anyone in the game right now. His ERA drops and drops and his innings pitched total goes up and up where it is almost a guarantee he will surpass 200 innings yet again. Two hundred very, very good innings. Enjoy the mastery while you still can Toronto.

Next: Player to watch and predictions!

Jun 6, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Mark Lowe (57) throws the ball against the Tampa Bay Rays during the eighth inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

Player to Watch

Much has been made about the acquisition of Price and Tulowitzki but a big key to this deadline dealings in Mark Lowe. He got lit up in his first foray onto the mound as a Blue Jay but his 2015 credentials speak so much more. If he can continue the dominance he showed during the rest of the season he will be integral to the playoff hopes of the Blue Jays. If Roberto Osuna or Brett Cecil regress or get hurt, he may be looked to clean up and get a few saves while they recover. Mark Lowe could very well be this generation’s Duane Ward (look it up!).

Predictions

The Twins will give the Blue Jays a tough time but as the confidence builds (especially in their home building) and the pitching starts to tighten up it will be shown this team is so very ready to take down all comers. The magic 8-Ball Hat tells me the Blue Jays will win the series 3-1. A sweep would be nice but, you know….Hutch…

Next: Is Bautista's Average a Concern?

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