GDT: Padres @ Blue Jays (3/3) - Blue Jays go for the sweep!

[jaysblue]

San Diego

Padres

43-58

 

vs.

 

Toronto

Blue Jays

57-44

 

Pitching Matchup:

 

SD: Perdomo (4-4, 6.93 ERA) vs. TOR: Dickey (7-11, 4.44 ERA)

 

Melvin Upton Jr. began a three-game series with the Padres, and he'll finish it with the Blue Jays.

 

Toronto acquired the veteran outfielder from San Diego on Tuesday morning for Class A pitching prospect Hansel Rodriguez. Upton made his Blue Jays debut as a pinch-hitter Tuesday night, but he's expected to be in the starting lineup for the first time on Wednesday afternoon.

 

Upton was in Toronto with his Padres teammates when the deal was announced, but the transition was more complicated than just walking to the other side of the field. Upton had to make the hour-plus drive to Queenston, Ontario, which borders Lewiston, N.Y., to regain entry into Canada under a different work visa.

 

"It's a little different," Upton admitted Tuesday evening. "It's really not something you'd expect to happen, but I think changing clubhouses, being on the other side, playing the team you were just on, it's, I don't know. I don't really know how I feel about it, but I'm definitely excited to be here. Good group of guys in a pennant race, and we have a chance to win."

 

Upton is expected to get the start in the outfield when Toronto knuckleballer R.A. Dickey takes the mound against San Diego's Luis Perdomo. Toronto's start originally belonged to right-hander Marco Estrada, but he'll now pitch Friday against the Orioles instead. That will give Estrada an extra couple of days' rest and have him match up against division-rival Baltimore.

 

The 31-year-old Upton was an everyday player for the Padres, but his role is expected to be a little different in Toronto. He'll predominantly start against lefties but will also receive some occasional playing time in the outfield when Jose Bautista, Michael Saunders or Kevin Pillar needs a day off.

"I've thought about it, but man, it's part of the game," Upton said when asked about facing his former team. "You rarely see it happen in the same series, but I think, as professionals, we know that anything is a possibility. Luckily, it's only for two games and we don't have to play them again."

 

Padres Lineup:

 

CF T. Jankowski

RF W. Myers

DH M. Kemp

LF A. Dickerson

2B R. Schimpf

C C. Bethancourt

SS A. Ramírez

1B B. Wallace

3B A. Rosales

 

Blue Jays Lineup:

 

DH Jose Bautista ®

3B Josh Donaldson ®

1B E. Encarnacion ®

LF M. Upton Jr. ®

CF Kevin Pillar ®

2B Devon Travis ®

RF E. Carrera (L)

SS Darwin Barney ®

C Josh Thole (L)

 

Game Notes:

 

• The Padres have homered in 24 consecutive games, a franchise record and the most in the Major Leagues this season. The Rangers hold the all-time record with 27 straight in August and September of 2002.

 

• Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson, who opened the scoring with a two-run homer on Tuesday, has reached base in 50 of his past 52 games.

 

• Perdomo has baffled hitters with his sinker of late, and his 62 percent ground-ball rate is the highest in the Majors over the past 30 days.

 

[Pendleton]

Had no idea about Perdomo's crazy GB tendencies, at a quick glance I thought he was just another s***** rookie pitcher, we'll see what he brings today.

[Grant77]

Good chance that HR streak continues with Dickey. Hopefully he limits them to solo shots and Upton has a big game.

[Spanky99]

LETS GO BLUE JAYS *CLAP, CLAP* *CLAP, CLAP, CLAP*

 

LETS GO BLUE JAYS *CLAP, CLAP* *CLAP, CLAP, CLAP*

 

LETS GO BLUE JAYS *CLAP, CLAP* *CLAP, CLAP, CLAP*

 

[jays4life19]

My hero!

 

Go Jays Go!

[candymartinez]

Better rest all those regulars with the off day tomorrow!

[baloojayz]

Why does the lineup look worse than when guys were on the DL and we didn't have Upton?

[MainChromosome]

Why does the lineup look worse than when guys were on the DL and we didn't have Upton?

 

Saunders and Tulo need constant maintenance, made of glass, that's why.

[Daniel Labude]

Lets Go Blue Jays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Krylian]

101 games into the season. I believe this is when the Jays started their glorious roll last year.

[MainChromosome]

Wonder if Stroman will be butthurt Gibbons called Estrada, Happ and Sanchez the Jays best starters lined up for Baltimore.

[Governator]

Wonder if Stroman will be butthurt Gibbons called Estrada, Happ and Sanchez the Jays best starters lined up for Baltimore.

 

The numbers don't lie, he's not stupid.

[Pendleton]

Eight strong from Dickey today, leaving Benoit to finish it in the 9th for his debut. Go Blue Jays!

[baseballsss]

Wonder if Stroman will be butthurt Gibbons called Estrada, Happ and Sanchez the Jays best starters lined up for Baltimore.

 

I'm sure he is aware just as everyone else is that he isn't one of the Jays best starters. He isn't someone who gets butt hurt he gets motivated.

[Spanky99]

I'm sure he is aware just as everyone else is that he isn't one of the Jays best starters. He isn't someone who gets butt hurt he gets motivated.

 

I'd agree to this.

[Spanky99]

Hey guys...

[Spanky99]

LETS GO BLUE JAYS *CLAP, CLAP* *CLAP, CLAP, CLAP*

 

LETS GO BLUE JAYS *CLAP, CLAP* *CLAP, CLAP, CLAP*

 

LETS GO BLUE JAYS *CLAP, CLAP* *CLAP, CLAP, CLAP*

 

 

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!!

[Grant77]

Hey guys...

 

Hey guy

[Spanky99]

Hey guy

U suxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Governator]

Clicking the hot chicks underwear ad on Facebook was a good choice, now every thread here ends with hot chicks in panties.

[Stangstag]

What a terrible lineup. Bautista should have been resting yesterday with Upton playing RF...

[Stangstag]

Also I don't really understand why Gibby continues to bat Pillar ahead of Travis

[Governator]

What a terrible lineup. Bautista should have been resting yesterday with Upton playing RF...

 

He is resting today at DH... and you guys need to realize Upton has no experience in right field, I don't blame Gibby for not putting him out there yet. He's played LF all year.

[MainChromosome]

Also I don't really understand why Gibby continues to bat Pillar ahead of Travis

 

It's dumb but it's John Gibbons, it's amazing this team is as good as it is with this clown running the show.

[glory]

Good move to have Dickey against the Padres. I was dreading him pitching in the opener against the Orioles. At least if he's trash today it's against a s*** team, and not one you are trying to catch.

[BigBulgeBlueBird]

WTF is tabler talking about

[MainChromosome]

He is resting today at DH... and you guys need to realize Upton has no experience in right field, I don't blame Gibby for not putting him out there yet. He's played LF all year.

 

Is it really any different playing LF then Right?

[BigCecil]

He is resting today at DH... and you guys need to realize Upton has no experience in right field, I don't blame Gibby for not putting him out there yet. He's played LF all year.

 

From everything I've read and seen Upton's arm is still +. RF shouldn't really be an issue for a guy with his experience.

 

Zeke's AB's lately have been just awful. Lets hope he comes out of this regression nose dive.

[Jonn]

Keep complaining about the lineup guys. It usually works out well.

[Governator]

From everything I've read and seen Upton's arm is still +. RF shouldn't really be an issue for a guy with his experience.

 

Zeke's AB's lately have been just awful. Lets hope he comes out of this regression nose dive.

 

Just saying, 10 years without playing that position would be an adjustment with high expectations when you just landed on a new team.