Surging Blue Jays gunning for the Red Sox: Full preview
Friday, June 3rd – 7:10 PM ET – Fenway Pahhhk
R.A. Dickey (2-6, 4.64 ERA) vs.
David Price (7-1, 5.11 ERA)
Dickey and Price meet for the second time in a row with both veterans still looking to find a consistent groove in 2016. Both seem to be approaching it, too.
The Blue Jays knuckleballer carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning last time out against the Red Sox, but found trouble quickly. He was forced out of the game after five and a third innings, getting tagged with three earned runs on three hits and four walks, striking out just one batter.
“I didn’t really have a swing-and-miss knuckleball today,” Dickey told Gregor Chisholm following the game, “but I did have a really hard one and it was moving late and off the barrel enough that they were hitting pieces of it.”
Creating a variance in velocities is key for Dickey, and given that the Red Sox did not see his A-game last weekend, he may be able to negate their advantage of seeing him again so soon by creating better movement on the pitch.
The Red Sox have had Dickey’s number this year, though, and patience at the plate has been the key. On April 15th, Dickey also walked four Red Sox batters and was unable to complete the fifth inning, allowing two earned runs on six hits.
Price, on the other hand, looked close to returning to his old self last weekend coming off three consecutive wins. The left-hander pitched six and a third, allowing two earned runs on five hits. The Blue Jays managed to work three walks off Price, however, striking out just three times.
Jose Bautista won’t be dreading the rematch, though. The Jays right-fielder is a career .345 hitter against Price in 55 at-bats with six home runs and 14 RBIs.
Next: Stro Show faces The Other Knuckler