Blue Jays: Sam Gaviglio opposes Trevor Cahill in the second game

On Tuesday, July 31, the Blue Jays will complete the second game of a short three-game set in Oakland. The Blue Jays will send Sam Gaviglio to the mound while the Athletics will call Trevor Cahill’s number.

Trevor Cahill has had a tough season this year. Not just once, but twice the veteran has been placed on the 10-day disabled list. The first trip, which occurred on May 9 (retroactive to May 6), was as a result of a right elbow impingement. Amazingly, this injury news came in the wake of a six inning, 12-strikeout start against the Baltimore Orioles. Luckily the righty was able to be activated off the disabled list on May 16.

The second injury was a little messier—and will sound familiar to Jays fans. The right-hander was originally scratched from a start on June 9 for a minor Achilles injury. Originally it was believed that the injury would not require a trip to the disabled list. However, just a few days after this scratched start, the starter was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right Achilles. The Athletics hurler would eventually return from the minor injury a month later.

Even with all of his injury trouble this season, the right-handed hurler has been remarkable at limiting home runs this year. Through eleven starts he has allowed a tiny 0.71 HR/9. As well, his 12.8% HR/FB rate suggests that his small HR/9 is very sustainable.

More from Toronto Blue Jays News

• Matt Chapman has been exactly what the Blue Jays needed
• Blue Jays: The goalposts are moving in the right direction
• Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays advance to the Championship Series
• Blue Jays: Comparisons for Alek Manoah’s Second Season
• Blue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King

Also, when the Blue Jays hit against Cahill, expect a fair amount of ground balls. This season he has managed an extreme 58.3% ground ball rate. For reference, an average ground ball pitcher will usually have a GB% of around 50%.

Partly as a result of this high rate of ground balls, the A’s starter has had a great year, so far. In eleven starts he has managed a 3.43 ERA, 3.42 FIP, 1.095 WHIP, and 119 ERA+. All told, he has been worth a good 1.2 fWAR.

In order to achieve his outs, the right-hander will mix between a sinker, change-up, slider, curveball, and four-seam fastball. Interestingly, despite most groundball pitchers working with a sinker and slider, primarily, Cahill has mainly used a sinker and change.

The right-handed hurler has thrown his sinker 37.2% of the time this season. The sinking fastball is decently fast, maintaining an average velocity of 92.39 mph. However, the pitch has done its job well, producing ground balls at a great rate of 67.19% of balls in play. Many of these worm burners have found holes, though, as the sinker has given up a mediocre .256 BAA.

The 30-year-old has changed speeds on batters 25.70% of the time this season. The off-speed pitch creates a lot of swing-and-miss, achieving whiffs on 45.33% of swings. As a result of this high whiff rate, the pitch has been responsible for 22 strikeouts—the most in his repertoire—and a minuscule .169 BAA.

Cahill has thrown sliders 17.87% of the time this season. The breaking ball is quite hard, posting an average velocity of 88.43 mph. However, the pitch has been horrible this season, allowing a .297 BAA and .541 SLGA.

The right-hander has broken off hooks 14.64% of the time this season. The curve maintains some good movement, breaking 12-6 with some slight arm sidecut. The big breaker has been very effective this year, posting a tiny .147 BAA with 12 strikeouts.

The right-handed hurler has thrown his four-seam fastball just 4.62% of the time this season. The heater averages a decent velocity of 93.18 mph. As well, the four-seamer has been quite good, giving up just one double in 7 at-bats.

The Blue Jays have not had much success in past experiences with the California native. Curtis Granderson and Russell Martin have had a lot of struggles with Cahill, specifically. Granderson has managed just two hits in 16 at-bats and Martin has one hit in eight. Randal Grichuk, the only Jays hitter that has done well against the starter, has gone two-for-three.

The Blue Jays will have a tough match-up to overcome on Tuesday night. Aside from the fact that the Athletics are one of the hottest teams in baseball right now, Cahill has handled Toronto hitters well in the past. Sam Gaviglio will look to control the red-hot Oakland offence, as well.