Series Preview: Let the Blue Jays BoSox Beatdown Begin!

It’s time Blue Jays. Time to get ready for that home stretch and to solidify that spot atop the AL East. Thoughts of a possible offensive slump after scoring two runs in two losses has been alleviated thanks to a total combined score of 14-1 in the two wins following those losses. The team now has THREE 30 homer, 100 RBI guys sitting in their lineup and if you count Colabello/Smoak as the primary first basemen there are four positions now yielding 30+ homers and 100+ RBI (30 HR, 103 RBI). Heck, the three catchers have 23 HR and 85 RBI…an outside shot at another position hitting 30 and 100…albeit a very outside shot. It all just goes to show that it has been a team effort on offense up and down the lineup.

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The pitching is what has turned the season around for the Blue Jays really. You can mash as many home runs as you want but if your pitchers can’t keep the other team from doing the same…well…well you would have the 50-51 Jays before the trade deadline. The deadline seemed to boost the confidence across the pitching staff that became anchored by Cy Young candidate David Price who has won 7 of the 9 starts he has tossed since the trades. The overall staff ERA in the second half is 3.21 which leads the American League. They have given up the fewest hits since then and are the only team left in the AL to give up less than 200 runs since the break.

Next: Looking Across the Diamond, the Red Sox

Sep 15, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter

(34) hits a sacrifice fly scoring second baseman

(not pictured) during the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Across the Diamond: Boston Red Sox

Although they are languishing in last place in the AL East the Red Sox offense has not thrown in the towel just yet. The Sox have 5 players with an OPS above .900, including David “500 club” Ortiz (1.252!) and Dustin Pedroia who has done great since coming back off the disabled list (1.212!). Mookie Betts has asserted himself as one of the best outfielders in the American League and Xander Bogaerts has solidified the shortstop position for years to come with his great defense and continuously improving bat (.791 OPS since the all-star break).

Unfortunately it is the pitching that is doing the team in. Heading into tonight’s action the team ERA is 14th in the league, with the only the Tigers being worse. The team ERA in the first half was 4.44….the second half? 4.41. No improvements at all even as they try different arms in the rotation. Only Wade Miley and Joe Kelly seem to have any semblance of success since the all-star break with both having ERAs under 4 in that time.

Next: Game 1: #StroShow vs Porcello

Sep 12, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher

(6) delivers a pitch during the first inning of the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Game 1: Rick Porcello (8-12, 5.06 ERA) vs Marcus Stroman (1-0, 5.40 ERA)

Toronto Blue Jays

Porcello has always enticed people with his stuff, dsating back to his MLB debut with the Tigers. Having stuff and being able to harness it are two different beasts and Porcello has never really come into his own. His 3.12 ERA in the second half is very good but it is only a small sample of a long career of underachieving. In 2014 he posted an ERA of 3.43 with the Tigers which led to him signing with the Red Sox in hopes of building off that. So far….not so much. He has the ability to hold the Jays offense down in this one but that isn’t likely to happen.

Marcus Stroman is stoked to be pitching to a full house in “The 6” and should have the Rogers Centre going nuts with his enthusiasm and pitching acumen. He gave up 3 earned in five innings during his start in Yankee Stadium but that came from a 3 run homer by Brett Gardner towards the end of the start. He showed great poise and was able to keep the ball down and it gave him the confidence that his stuff was still there which will bode well for the Rogers Centre faithful.

Next: Game 2: Dickey vs Miley

Sep 15, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher

(56) throws the ball against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Game 3: TBD vs Mark Buehrle (14-7, 3.66 ERA)

Mark Buehrle has been OK. He hadn’t pitched all that well down the stretch until turning in a solid 1 run given up in his last start. He has had a second cortisone shot in his arm to stave off the wear and tear of a long season and his 36 years of being the 200 inning guy may finally be catching up to him. In a perfect world he will come back next season but I get the feeling that if the Blue Jays make a serious run in the post-season you may see this as the last season for the grizzled veteran.

The Blue Jays will look for a solid start from Buehrle. They just need something that keeps the offense in the game. He doesn’t have to be lights out. But, if he can keep this Red Sox lineup in check for 5-6 innings, the Blue Jays should be in good shape. The offense and the bullpen are good enough to carry the weight of his start if need be.

Next: Who Ya Got?

Sep 16, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays catcher

(55) hits a two-run home run in the ninth inning of their game against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Player to Watch

At this stage they are all worth watching but the one to keep an eagle eye on is Russell Martin. If he has truly turned a corner at the plate it lengthens the lineup that much more. He has cracked 20 home runs and has been receiving the ball very well of late. It also helps to have a Dioner Navarro to get your back when things aren’t going too smoothly. Martin will again start to catch R.A. Dickey which was part of the reason he had taken such a physical toll as the season went on and caused the Blue Jays to call up Josh Thole to catch Dickey so Martin could get some rest. He seems to be back to normal and has returned to the status of a very good to elite catcher in the majors.

Predictions

This will be a two of three affair. Boston has been hitting quite well lately and have tied the Blue Jays for team BA in the second half. The Red Sox have always been tough to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre and Big Papi absolutely rakes whenever he shows up in town. The Papi factor alone gives the Red Sox at least one win, but the other two should be easily handled by the surging Blue Jays. Are we having fun yet watching a winner roll through their opponents yet? Yeah….it has been pretty cool.

Next: Is David Price an AL Cy Young Award Front Runner?

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• Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays advance to the Championship Series
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• Blue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King