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. Troy Tulowitzki ® SS
7. Miguel Montero (L) C
8. Kevin Pillar ® CF
9. Ryan Goins (L) 2B
Marco Estrada, RHP
Estrada is 0-5 with a 9.52 ERA since the start of June and he's walked 26 batters over his last 28 innings. One red flag? Estrada complained of fatigue in his last outing despite entering the fifth with 57 pitches.
A's Lineup...
1. Matt Joyce (L) RF
2. Marcus Semien ® SS
3. Jed Lowrie (S) 2B
4. Khris Davis ® LF
5. Yonder Alonso (L) 1B
6. Ryon Healy ® DH
7. Matt Chapman ® 3B
8. Josh Phegley ® C
9. Rajai Davis ® CF
Paul Blackburn, RHP
Blackburn suffered the first loss of his career Friday, surrendering four runs on six hits, including a home run, in 5 1/3 innings against the Mets. He had completed at least six innings in each of his previous three starts.
PREVIEW...
By Keegan Matheson / MLB.com
The Blue Jays will send Marco Estrada to the mound on Wednesday night in Toronto against the Athletics with speculation building ahead of the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline.
Estrada is a pending free agent at the end of this season, making him one of the Blue Jays players expected to draw interest in the coming days. The right-hander's value remains relatively low, however, as he enters play with a 5.52 ERA.
Toronto's bullpen has been worked hard this season, and their 363 2/3 innings pitched entering Tuesday's game rank them second in the American League behind the Orioles. Estrada's starts have been part of this problem, with six of his last seven outings lasting fewer than five innings.
Oakland will counter with rookie Paul Blackburn, who will be making his fifth Major League start. The 23-year-old has found some early success, posting a 2.88 ERA, but did allow four earned runs over 5 1/3 innings last time out against the Mets.
Blackburn was never a high-strikeout pitcher in his Minor League career, but that has become particularly prominent since his promotion at the beginning of the month. Over 25 innings of work with the Athletics, Blackburn has struck out just nine batters and walked seven.
The Athletics are also expected to have reliever Frankie Montas back in their bullpen on Wednesday. Montas had to stay back due to visa issues, but was scheduled to fly in on Tuesday night.
• The first inning has been particularly unkind to Estrada, which has kept him from working deep into games several times this season. In 20 first innings, Estrada has allowed 15 runs on 23 hits and 12 walks. Opponents have posted a .902 OPS over that time.
• This series brings together two teams who are extremely reliant on the home run ball. Entering play on Tuesday, the Blue Jays had the league's highest rate of runs scored by home runs at 51.1%. The Athletics sit just behind them in third place with a rate of 48.8%.
• Through May, Estrada allowed a .226 batting average, just above his Statcast-expected average of .212 based on the quality of contact against him. But since June 1, Estrada's .341 average allowed is 84 points above his .257 xBA, the second-largest gap among more than 100 pitchers with at least 150 opponent at-bats during that time.
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 A's...
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