Series Preview: Blue Jays Looking to Lock Down AL East vs Rays

Sep 20, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Mark Buehrle (56) throws against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre. Boston defeated Toronto 4-3. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Game 3: Matt Andriese (3-5, 4.37 ERA) vs Mark Buehrle (14-7, 3.69 ERA)

Andriese is a 2011 draftee by the Padres who now toils in the Rays rotation. He has been OK thus far but not great. His strikeout total sits at 44 in almost 60 innings and teams are belting him to a tune of .275. This is a pretty good time to audition for a role in next year’s rotation and get some innings under his belt. Doing that against the jugernaut offense of the Blue Jays seems like a tall order but the Blue Jays sometimes play down to theit pitching opponent…sometimes. Let’s see how Andriese handles the atmosphere and hoopla at Rogers Centre.

Buehrle has been so maddeningly consistent his whole career. Since he has had a cortisone shot in his tired shoulder and his starts keeping getting pushed back he may not reach the 200 inning mark for the first time in his career (he is at 185.1 innings so far with 2 starts left and perhaps some innings from the bullpen at the end of the season to get him there. If his shoulder keeps barking and he can’t handle going around 7 innings in these last few starts then you may see Buehrle left out of the post-season rotation. Can you say left-handed specialist? I knew ya could.

Next: Players to watch and series prediction!