Blue Jays Lineup...
1. Jose Bautista ® RF
2. Josh Donaldson ® 3B
3. Justin Smoak (S) 1B
4. Kendrys Morales (S) DH
5. Steve Pearce ® LF
6. Ezequiel Carrera (L) CF
7. Miguel Montero (L) C
8. Darwin Barney ® 2B
9. Ryan Goins (L) SS
Francisco Liriano, LHP
Liriano battled control issues early in his last start, needing 30 pitches in the first inning, but he settled down to give the Blue Jays five frames. The left-hander allowed just two runs on two hits while striking out five.
Angels Line-up...
1. Yunel Escobar ® 3B
2. Mike Trout ® CF
3. Albert Pujols ® DH
4. C.J. Cron ® 1B
5. Andrelton Simmons ® SS
6. Kole Calhoun (L) RF
7. Martin Maldonado ® C
8. Shane Robinson ® LF
9. Cliff Pennington (S) 2B
Yusmeiro Petit, RHP
Petit will make his first start of the season on Saturday in place of the injured Alex Meyer. He is expected to throw 40-50 pitches, setting up a bullpen game for the Angels. It will mark Petit’s first start since June 20, 2016, against the Dodgers.
PREVIEW...
By Maria Guardado / MLB.com
Left-hander Francisco Liriano is set to face the Angels on Saturday afternoon in what could potentially be his final start for the Blue Jays. With the non-waiver Trade Deadline on Monday, Liriano has drawn interest from rival clubs, fueling speculation that he could be moved soon.
"I've been part of this before in my life, so I just try not to pay attention to that," Liriano said through an interpreter. "I try to just concentrate on what I can control, and stuff like that I cannot control."
Liriano will be opposed by right-hander Yusmeiro Petit, who will make his first start of the season in the middle game of this set at Rogers Centre.
Liriano is 6-5 with a 5.99 ERA in 17 starts. He picked up a win in his last outing against the A's on Monday after yielding two runs over five innings. In 12 career appearances against the Angels, the 33-year-old is 2-7 with a 5.95 ERA. Liriano is set to be a free agent at the end of the season, and he is being shopped around the league as a starter or possibly as a reliever. The Royals and Cubs are among the teams that have been linked to him.
Should Liriano be traded before Saturday, right-hander Mike Bolsinger would likely come off the disabled list and start in his place.
The Angels have mostly deployed Petit as a multi-inning reliever this season, but he'll make a spot start in place of the injured Alex Meyer on Saturday. Petit, who last started for the Nationals in June 2016, is expected to throw between 40-50 pitches. The 32-year-old has logged a 2.70 ERA in 56 2/3 innings this year, working three scoreless frames in his last outing against the Indians on Tuesday.
• The Angels will activate right-hander Troy Scribner ahead of Saturday's game to give their bullpen some extra coverage behind Petit. Scribner, 26, is 10-3 with a 4.16 ERA in 18 appearances for Triple-A Salt Lake.
• With the left-handed Liriano on the mound, the Angels will likely sit lefty bats Luis Valbuena and Ben Revere and start C.J. Cron and Shane Robinson at first base and left field, respectively.
• Saturday will mark Petit's first career appearance at Rogers Centre. Petit has faced the Blue Jays twice in relief, tossing 4 1/3 scoreless innings.
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*
Hey Angel's...
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