Blue Jays: J.A. Happ Starts Sweep-Clinching Game Against Andrew Cashner

On Sunday, July 22, the Blue Jays will look to sweep the Baltimore Orioles in three games. Andrew Cashner will start for the Orioles and J.A. Happ will take the bump for the Blue Jays.

Andrew Cashner is another off-season signing that went wrong for the Baltimore Orioles. While the front office deserves some recognition for trying to patch a hole in their team, neither move has worked out in Baltimore’s favour. However, on just a two-year deal, Cashner is a good spot holder while the team has no intention of contending.

The right-hander’s start on Sunday will be his first since being placed on the disabled list on July 11. The starter was forced to exit a game early against the Yankees on July 10 because of neck spasms. The injury is not a new occurrence for the starter, it is a recurring ailment, and, according to Buck Showalter, is something they expect every year.

While his overall numbers are not strong, the right-handed hurler had a strong month of June. In five starts, he posted a good 3.21 ERA with seventeen strikeouts. As well, in just one start in the month, a June 20 contest against the Nationals, he lasted less than six innings.

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The Blue Jays played the big righty during his dominant month of June. The Baltimore hurler allowed nine hits, two home runs, and three earned runs over six innings against Toronto.

For the season, Cashner has below average numbers, posting a 4.56 ERA, 4.92 FIP, 1.520 WHIP, and 90 ERA+. However, it should be noted that he has dropped his ERA substantially since he last played the Blue Jays—when he owned a 5.02 ERA.

The Baltimore starter offers a wide array of pitches to opposing batters. In eighteen starts this year, he has mixed between a sinker, four seam fastball, curveball, cutter, and change-up. Interestingly, the five pitches are fairly evenly spread out, in terms of use rate.

The veteran has thrown his sinker 37.5% of the time this season. The sinking-fastball is decently quick, posting an average velocity of 92.98 mph. However, the pitch has not fared well at all, allowing 16 walks and a .522 SLGA.

Cashner has straightened batters up with a four seam fastball 24.03% of the time this season. The four seamer is just a little bit faster than the sinker, maintaining an average velocity of 93.99 mph. The heater has also been hit hard, coughing up five home runs and a .546 SLGA.

Cashner completes his pitching repertoire with a curveball, a pitch he throws 13.6% of the time. The hook drops decently well, while fading to the arm side. Despite the decent movement, the hook has been hit incredibly hard, posting a .327 BAA and .633 SLGA.

The right-handed hurler has thrown his cut-fastball 12.39% of the time this season. The cutter averages a velocity of 87.29 mph, with decent glove-side cut. The pitch has actually been quite good, allowing a decent .218 BAA.

Finally, he has changed speeds on batters 12.39% of the time this season. The change is a decent drop in velocity from the fastball, posting an average velocity of 84.35 mph. The off speed offering has been decent, giving up a .241 BAA and .121 ISOA.

As one may guess from the stats against each of his pitches, opposing batters have squared Cashner up well. This season batters have hit for an above average rate of line drives, clocking in at 23.3%. As well, the starter has given up a below average 31.5% hard hit rate. Each of these rates are about 3-4% worse than last season.

Coupled with his poor contact rates are his poor strikeout and walk numbers. The right-hander has struck out batters at a below average rate of 18.3% and posted a poor 7.24 K/9. As well, he has given up a fair amount of walks, maintaining a 9.7% BB-rate and 3.84 BB/9.

The Blue Jays have fared decently well against the Texas native in their past experience. Curtis Granderson leads the group with five hits, including a double and home run, in 17 at-bats. Not to be forgotten, Kendrys Morales has two hits of his own, including a home run, in five at-bats. However, Yangervis Solarte has managed just one hit in six trips to the plate.

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The Blue Jays were decent against Cashner the last time that they played him. However, he may be a little rusty after an extended break and disabled list time. Also, J.A. Happ will look to bounce back from the rough patch he hit before the all-star break.