Blue Jays Series Preview: Jays look to continue streak against Dodgers top arms

Game 3: May 8 – 1:07 ET

Ross Stripling (0-2, 4.33 ERA, 3.25 FIP) vs.
Marco Estrada (1-2, 2.64 ERA, 3.26 FIP)

The Blue Jays hitters need to come into this one licking their chops. I mean, regardless of how the first two games go, going up against two pitchers like Maeda and Kershaw is tough, and they need to knock Stripling around.

He doesn’t offer big stuff or strikeout potential and while he’s had a decent start to the 2016 season, he shouldn’t strike fear into any of the Jays hitters. Well, maybe Ryan Goins.

This is the type of matchup where you want to be patient. Let the young pitcher come towards you, make him work himself into hitters counts where he’s forced to use his average stuff in the zone. If they can accomplish that, they have an excellent chance of hitting him hard and getting to that sub-average bullpen early.

Next: Blue Jays have options with two 40-man roster openings

On the Jays side of things, Marco enters this one on a roll and a very good start to his season. Regression was expected from his 2015 numbers, and they’re likely still going to do so, but he’s been great so far.

His K% has gone from 18.1% to 22.4%, his ground balls are up, his fly balls and home runs are down. His walks are up, but that’s really the only blemish on his 2016 season. He continues to improve and show that 2016 may not have been the fluke many outside the Jays organization thought it was.