GDT(3/4): Toronto Blue Jays @ Oakland Athletics - Buehrle vs. Kazmir - 10:05 PM ET

[fatcowxlive]

http://i.imgur.com/d9bnvVr.png

 

Pitching Matchup:

 

http://i.imgur.com/hJgqOdU.png

SP - Mark Buehrle (115.1 IP, 30 BB, 5.23 K/9, 2.34 BB/9, .249 BAA, .279 BABIP, 3.68 FIP) [L]

http://i.imgur.com/pagOZ1E.png

 

http://i.imgur.com/zmjaWlw.png

SP - Scott Kazmir (103.1 IP, 24 BB, 7.93 K/9, 2.09 BB/9, .215 BAA, .257 BABIP, 2.61 FIP) [L]

http://i.imgur.com/ZsEl8Nl.png

 

Lineups:

http://i.imgur.com/aVSm4ca.png

Make your picks for the first homer contest hosted by Dylan! (Click the image below!)

http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t538/BlueJays20131/hr2_zps4bac6d4f.png

 

Jays Batting:

 

Team Batting:

http://i.imgur.com/ZCWNpZA.png

 

Team Pitching:

http://i.imgur.com/FetD4he.png

 

A's Batting:

 

Team Batting:

http://i.imgur.com/D0TqJJs.png

 

Team Pitching:

http://i.imgur.com/BvmEx0P.png

 

Notes:

 

MLB:

• No Important Notes Today.
  

 

Jays:

• Buehrle has been backed by a combined nine runs during a five-start winless funk. The left-hander, who has pitched to a 3.44 ERA while going 0-4 over that stretch, hasn't suffered five consecutive defeats since 2010 with the Chicago White Sox. Buehrle is 8-13 with a 3.63 ERA lifetime versus the A's, but he's won his last four starts against them behind a 3.16 ERA. Coco Crisp and Alberto Callaspo are both 3 for 21 against Buehrle since 2009.
  
• Leadoff hitter Jose Reyes is 7 for 33 with just one run during Toronto's 2-5 slide. The Blue Jays had won 18 of 21 before posting a 9-17 record since June 7.
  
• With their loss Thursday, the Blue Jays fell out of sole possession of first place in the AL East for the first time since May 21, dropping behind the Orioles on percentage points.
  

 

Athletics:

• Kazmir, who was tagged for a season-high seven runs over three innings in a 10-1 road loss to the New York Mets in his previous start June 24, has surrendered two runs or fewer in six of his last seven. Kazmir gave up three runs over seven innings in a 3-2 loss at Toronto on May 23, his first appearance against the Blue Jays since 2010.
  
• Oakland's Nick Punto entered the 12th mired in a 2-for-31 slump before connecting on what proved to be the game-winning double after Derek Norris scored from first on Melky Cabrera's fielding error. The A's are 20-7 at home since May 7, baseball's second-best record during that time.
  
• A's pitchers reached 653 strikeouts after Thursday's series opener, setting a franchise record for strikeouts before the All-Star break. Their previous record was 650, set last year.
  

 

Standings:

http://i.imgur.com/IUYhcd3.png

 

Venue:

http://i.imgur.com/Sy4hmDY.png

http://www.andrewclem.com/Baseball/Diag/OaklandColiseum.gif

 

I hope you guys enjoy the GDT! Please leave feedback and ideas/improvements for future GDTs!

[theblujay]

Go Jays? Maybe we'll score a run this time?

[jaysfan2014]

Hope Gillespie gets here soon..

[walkoff93]

Lucky GIF, for Luck:

 

http://i.imgur.com/KKCznza.gif

[o2cui2i]

Lucky GIF, for Luck:

 

http://i.imgur.com/KKCznza.gif

 

that cracks me up every time... would love to learn how to do them.

[o2cui2i]

remember a couple years ago when Aaron Hill was the plague that we were all happy to see leave. he's a 100 times better than Tolleson and Goins and he's not even having a good year

[jaysfan2014]

Guess Gibbons is fed up with the platoons not providing offense..

[labadee]

Go blue jays!!

[jays4life19]

Let's go bluejays! Let's not suck today!

[bluebird]

as long as tampa dosen't catch us in standings this year i will be happy

[TheHurl]

I'm kind of hoping for a 5 way tie at 81-81.

[NorthOf49]

I'm kind of hoping for a 5 way tie at 81-81.

#TeamEntropy!

 

Cheering for crazy tiebreaker scenarios is a lot of fun.

[G-Snarls]

Sure would be nice to win this on

 

Yankees and Orioles already lost today

[jaysfan2014]

I've read from multiple sources that Samardzija is starting tonight

 

Tomorrow I've heard.

[G-Snarls]

I've read from multiple sources that Samardzija is starting tonight

 

[NorthOf49]

When in doubt, search Twitter!

[jaysfan2014]

Shi DavidiVerified account ‏@ShiDavidi

 

Steve Tolleson rolled his ankle before game yesterday. That's why Juan Francisco is starting vs Scott Kazmir

 

You have got to be kidding me... Jays hopefully are either working the phones for Prado/Hill/Headley or looking to get someone up from Buffalo.

[ElNik2013]

as long as tampa dosen't catch us in standings this year i will be happy

 

 

 

I'd be more concerned with the Jays catching the Rays at this point.

[o2cui2i]

Shi DavidiVerified account ‏@ShiDavidi

 

Steve Tolleson rolled his ankle before game yesterday. That's why Juan Francisco is starting vs Scott Kazmir

 

You have got to be kidding me... Jays hopefully are either working the phones for Prado/Hill/Headley or looking to get someone up from Buffalo.

 

so semi blind Tollesan trip over his own two feet. what next? lol

[jaysfan2014]

What's your twitter address?

 

How do I embed tweets?

[jaysfan2014]

Anyway, in case you're wondering, Mastro is the emergency 2B, as he has played it in the minors and with the Twins.

[TheHurl]

what about Santos?

[jays4life19]

Saturday night game at 10pm. This GDT should be a sloppy mess.

[frizzer1]

Is Pillar done as a blue jay after his tantrum?

Otherwise wouldn't he be here?

[NorthOf49]

Is Pillar done as a blue jay after his tantrum?

Otherwise wouldn't he be here?

His total lack of production at the big league level is a much bigger contributor to him not being here.

[KingKat]

Yep. He actually started his professional career as a 2B - before being moved to the outfield. Barry Davis of Sportsnet just said that they had him taking groundballs at 2B this afternoon - could he be the answer at 2B?

 

Well he could be Tolleson 2.0. in that he can play the infield and outfield and bat from the right-hand side with the difference being that Tolleson is an infielder who can play the OF in a pinch and he's a CF who can play the infield in the pinch. It's nice that he can fill the Tolleson role if the later is out but the real answer is a true everyday player to play 2B or 3B.

[Atothe]

Baltimore beating the red sox ass

[Convo]

Baltimore beating the red sox ass

 

Good times!

[jays4life19]

Since it's a Saturday night game i think we should all play a drinking game in the GDT.

[o2cui2i]

Is Pillar done as a blue jay after his tantrum?

Otherwise wouldn't he be here?

 

when a player is sent down they have to be down for 10 days before they can be recalled.