GDT - Jays @ Angels (3/4) 21:00 EST

[Grant77]

Three in a row, let's do this Jays!

 

Blue Jays lineup:

 

4 Travis

5 Donaldson

0 Encarnacion

9 Bautista

2 Martin

6 Tulowitzki

7 Saunders

3 Smoak

8 Pillar

 

SP: Liriano (7-12, 5.16 ERA)

 

Angels lineup:

 

5 Escobar

9 Calhoun

8 Trout

0 Pujols

3 Marte

6 Simmons

2 Bandy

4 Petit

7 Robinson

 

SP: Nolasco (5-14 4.94 ERA)

____________________________________

Liriano looks to build on gem vs. Angels

 

With the Blue Jays still in the thick of the American League East and AL Wild Card races, all eyes will be on Francisco Liriano on Saturday as they look to gain ground against the scuffling Angels in the third game of a four-game series.

 

Liriano hasn't won since Aug. 26, but he dominated the Rays in his last start after a stint in the bullpen.

 

"I don't know how he could have been any better that last time out," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "We put him in the bullpen, to give that a little look, with the idea that he was probably going to make some starts anyway.

 

"Then he came out, and what was really good about it to me, was that he hadn't pitched in awhile and he came out really good. The stuff has always been there, he's a dominating guy, he can get into control problems but that wasn't the case the last time. He could end up being very big for us."

 

 

Ricky Nolasco will oppose Liriano, looking for just his second win at home this season. Nolasco, who was acquired at the trade deadline along with right-hander Alex Meyer from Minnesota, is winless in his career against Toronto with a 4.91 ERA in four starts.

 

The Blue Jays enter Saturday tied with the Orioles for the first AL Wild Card spot and two games back of the Red Sox in the AL East.

 

Three things to know about this game

 

• Russell Martin will be back behind the plate for Liriano's start. Martin was held out of the starting lineup on Friday night as R.A. Dickey's personal catcher Josh Thole started instead. Martin has 19 home runs this season and 12 of those have come since Aug. 1.

 

• Shortstop Andrelton Simmons has suddenly found some pop in his bat, homering three times in his last three games, despite battling an injured hand.

 

• Liriano has fared well against the Angels' hitters in the past. Mike Trout (4-for-10) is the only hitter in the lineup to have more than three hits off of him. Kole Calhoun has one home run in two at-bats against Liriano.

[fatcowxlive]

Yeah Grant!!!

 

Lets get it! Keep going for that sweep, Boston won

[RealAccountant]

Dammit trout take a day off

[Belliss101]

Let's gooooooooooo

[intentional wok]

 

Maybe taking the heat off of one of his guys. Maybe just doesn't worry about job security.

[Governator]

Grant, the saviour.

[jays4life19]

Grant, my hero.

[bones10]

Who didn't want a final week showdown for the division anyways? lets keep pace and make it happen.

[43211234]

Easy win tonight. Finish the sweep tomorrow and prepare to sweep the Mariners.

[fatcowxlive]

Easy win tonight. Finish the sweep tomorrow and prepare to sweep the Mariners.

 

You can even say, it's in the bag

[Pendleton]

Let's go boys! Finally a game I should be able to stay awake for

[Grant77]

It will be interesting to see what Gibby does if both Dickey and Liriano have good starts. It would be a nice problem.

[fatcowxlive]

It will be interesting to see what Gibby does if both Dickey and Liriano have good starts. It would be a nice problem.

 

There's no problem. Dickey's getting dropped. No space for him and Thole, plus at least Liriano gives you lefty matchups. Dickey's biggest positive his his 200+ innings a season which plays no part in the postseason

 

Edit: Oops I think you're talking about the current 5 man makeup in the last week lol

[Jimcanuck]

Joe Thornton needs to shave off that ugly beard

[intentional wok]

Easy win tonight. Finish the sweep tomorrow and prepare to sweep the Mariners.

 

If I were in charge I would mark this as a pre-emptive prediction and ban you for a week if it ends up wrong. Alas, I am no mod.

[intentional wok]

There's no problem. Dickey's getting dropped. No space for him and Thole, plus at least Liriano gives you lefty matchups. Dickey's biggest positive his his 200+ innings a season which plays no part in the postseason

 

Edit: Oops I think you're talking about the current 5 man makeup in the last week lol

 

Yes. I don't think that's what Grant meant, but just to steal this tangent I think that more people need to realize that Dickey's value is just to kill the clock and not to be relied upon as a genuine clutch performer. He's done his job more or less adequately for four years, but even he probably wouldn't argue that his trick pitch is reliable enough for a playoff game.

[jays4life19]

If I were in charge I would mark this as a pre-emptive prediction and ban you for a week if it ends up wrong. Alas, I am no mod.

 

Is this a thing?

 

If so, we have this game in the bag.

[Grant77]

There's no problem. Dickey's getting dropped. No space for him and Thole, plus at least Liriano gives you lefty matchups. Dickey's biggest positive his his 200+ innings a season which plays no part in the postseason

 

Edit: Oops I think you're talking about the current 5 man makeup in the last week lol

 

Yes, I was talking about the rest of the season. I don't think either is part of the postseason rotation if Estrada is healthy, but Liriano could be valuable out of the pen.

[Jimcanuck]

Yes, I was talking about the rest of the season. I don't think either is part of the postseason rotation if Estrada is healthy, but Liriano could be valuable out of the pen.

 

Liriano out of the pen for sure. Not Dickey, but if Gibbons is the one that decides on the post season roster, Dickey is on the roster.

[intentional wok]

Is this a thing?

 

If so, we have this game in the bag.

 

I've been wanting to make it a thing to curb some of the awful, awful hysteria in gameday discussion. Make people think about if what they're about to submit makes sense. I also suggested a custom avatar punishment for the offending poster, possibly selected by his/her biggest board rival.

[Grant77]

I've been wanting to make it a thing to curb some of the awful, awful hysteria in gameday discussion. Make people think about if what they're about to submit makes sense. I also suggested a custom avatar punishment for the offending poster, possibly selected by his/her biggest board rival.

 

I could think of some good ones for gibbers.

[fatcowxlive]

Longoria hits a long homer foul, next pitch he smacks a fair homer lol 2-2 rays!

[fatcowxlive]

Yes. I don't think that's what Grant meant, but just to steal this tangent I think that more people need to realize that Dickey's value is just to kill the clock and not to be relied upon as a genuine clutch performer. He's done his job more or less adequately for four years, but even he probably wouldn't argue that his trick pitch is reliable enough for a playoff game.

 

A-MEN.

 

I completely agree with you, he knows his value is being a workhorse. His numbers at the end of the year will look like your average (maybe even better than) #5 pitcher, but it's 50/50 that he goes less than 5 and give up more than 5 runs or pitch into the 7/8th with 0-2 ER. Night and day differences, no way you can rely on that

[fatcowxlive]

3-2 Rays!

[fatcowxlive]

Devon!!!

 

Lets go Dongerson!!

[BlueRocky]

Happy Travis is doing so well in the leadoff spot

[Grant77]

Let's get an early lead with a bomb here Edwin.

[BlueJays]

Let's get an early lead with a bomb here Edwin.

He got you a K instead

[West Texas Forever]

Just missed it, Jose.

[Grant77]

Good job Rays