Blue Jays Series Preview: Home Opener Edition

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Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

It’s home opener time again. Time to settle in and watch the pomp and circumstance of Toronto welcoming home its AL East Champion Blue Jays who have not been seen in these parts since October of last year.

The bands will play, the lights will go down and your team will be presented en mass to let you give out that cheer you have been saving for them since they bowed out of the World Series race against Kansas City. For now they will welcome back their two-month pitching leader, from last year, David Price and his new team of choice, the hated Red Sox from Boston.

Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

Across the Diamond: Boston Red Sox

They were pretty awful at times last year, those pesky Red Sox. Last in the division and a lot of growing pains, including a cancer scare for manager John Farrell away from the field. It was not a good year for the Bostonians.

Thing is with the Red Sox, they are able to retool quickly. Bullpen killing you? Go out and get the best closer available in Craig Kimbrel via trade. Starting rotation got you down? Sign the biggest free agent out there away from your hated rival Blue Jays in the form of David Price. Kids in crucial positions? Well they are a year older and a year better. Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr. wll cause fits for the opposition, ’cause they sure came into their own last season.

Boston can always buy their way into the equation, but aside from the pitching upgrades they are relying mostly on the home grown talent to take them to the next level. After David Price, though there are a whole lot of question marks. Would you bank your season on the inconsistent Clay Buchholz or the young Joe Kelly? The arm of Rick Porcello, who always seems to be a bit behind where he should? I sure wouldn’t, but the potential is there…hmm potential…sounds like the Blue Jays rotation doesn’t it?

Next: Game 1: The Stro Show gets the nod in both openers

Game 1: Joe Kelly (0-0) vs Marcus Stroman (1-0, 3,38 ERA)

Despite a 2.35 ERA in his last eight starts of 2015, Kelly is still a work in progress. Versus the Jays he may have a few fits thanks to his 6.17 ERA in two starts against them last season. Going into a home opener for a team that is hungry after a so-so 2-2 start to the season is not the kind of matchup that Kelly was envisioning.

He has a pretty good 95 MPH heater and he is getting better but with the grandiose stage of Rogers SkyDome Centre, it may be a bit too much to overcome. He will become a backbone of this rotation as the year goes forward so don’t be surprised if the next time we see Kelly he will have come into his own.

Stroman gave the Blue Jays exactly the type of start expected of his new-found ace role. Pitch into the 9th, keep the pitch count down (as well as his pitches) and you have the makings of an excellent beginning. Forget about innings pitched, just keep your eye on the number of pitches he throws. If you are worried about a tired arm later in the season, don’t worry. More games like the one in Tampa and there will be no issues of mileage on his golden arm.

Will he survive to be the front end guy the Jays hope for? It would seem so though his career could mimic another pitcher with a diminutive stature…Tom Gordon. He eventually move to the bullpen to truly maximize the potential in his arm and he became a great closer. Keep an eye on this as things move forward for Stroooooo.

Next: Game 2: Don't let the 14-year age gap fool you

Apr 4, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher R.A. Dickey (43) throws a pitch during the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Game 2: Rick Porcello (0-0) vs R.A. Dickey (1-0. 5.40 ERA)

Porcello is another who has had some success that is countered by some unsightly seasons. His arm is as good as it gets and the Tigers rode with his potential for a few years. Unfortunately he was never able to put together two successive good seasons and he was traded to the Red Sox who then signed him t0 a 4-year/$82.5 Million dollar extension.

The result? a 4.92 ERA….fourth worst amongst qualifying starters. He was awful. After coming back from a tricep injury he did post a 3.14 ERA which he attributes to a different approach, relying more on his sinker to get weak contact. Maybe he has grown from thrower to pitcher. Perhaps that was the turnaround needed. I say wait and see. This year truly is pivotal for him.

Dickey is as Dickey does. Leads this pitching staff quietly. Tosses soft and hard knucklers to the opposition. Tries as best he can with the arm he has and perhaps is pitching in his final year. His ERA will never be amazing but he will give you 200 innings and veteran guile.

He started out OK in Tampa and certainly hopes to build on his season from there. He may not start the season well but he is almost a sure bet to close it well. With the Dome closed, look for that knuckler to really be moving. Can he tame a truly deadly Boston lineup? Perhaps….

Next: Game 3: Another knuckler on the mound, this time for Boston

Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Game 3: Steven Wright (0-0) vs Marco Estrada (0-0)

Another knuckleball guy who has pitched just over 100 Major League innings for his career. There really isn’t much to give here. His 3.95 career ERA is respectable and right in line with a guy who has a knuckler. The Blue Jays don’t see many knucklers…well, I think maybe one. This could give our power bats fits. Be a little concerned.

Eatrada is returning from back issues but should be just fine for his 2016 debut. He kind of came out of homer happy nowhere…he led the NL in homers against in 204 and that trend did continue somewhat in 2015, though with fewer batters on it was hardly noticeable.

Next: Blue Jays notes on the new infield and David Price

Now after posting the 5th best ERA in the AL last year there is a lot riding on the arm of Estrada this year. Last yer he had a BABIP if .216…pretty damn good. He might not be able to sustain that, so look for a few more rough outings in Estrada’s future.

The occassional blowout loss for him will be fine if he is winnable in his other starts. Very key guy for the 2016 Blue Jays.

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Across the Diamond: Boston Red Sox

Game 1: Joe Kelly (0-0) vs Marcus Stroman (1-0, 3,38 ERA)

Game 2: Rick Porcello (0-0) vs R.A. Dickey (1-0. 5.40 ERA)

Game 3: Steven Wright (0-0) vs Marco Estrada (0-0)

Schedule