Blue Jays Lineup...
1. Kevin Pillar ® CF
2. Josh Donaldson ® 3B
3. Jose Bautista ® RF
4. Kendrys Morales (S) DH
5. Justin Smoak (S) 1B
6. Troy Tulowitzki ® SS
7. Dwight Smith Jr. (L) LF
8. Ryan Goins (L) 2B
9. Luke Maile ® C
Marcus Stroman, RHP
Stroman remains Toronto's most consistent starter in 2017 and was at his best last time out against Seattle, holding the Mariners to just one run over seven innings while striking out six and not issuing a walk.
Sox' Lineup...
1. Alen Hanson (S) CF
2. Melky Cabrera (S) LF
3. Jose Abreu ® 1B
4. Avisail Garcia ® RF
5. Todd Frazier ® DH
6. Matt Davidson ® 3B
7. Tim Anderson ® SS
8. Omar Narvaez (L) C
9. Yolmer Sanchez (S) 2B
Mike Pelfrey, RHP
Pelfrey said his stuff has faltered in his last two outings, but he’s grinded to hold opponents to two or fewer runs in each of his last five starts. Length is an issue for him, allowing opponents to have a 1.416 OPS his third time through the order.
PREVIEW...
By Keegan Matheson / MLB.com |
White Sox right-hander Mike Pelfrey will square off against Blue Jays righty Marcus Stroman in the middle game of this series on Saturday at Rogers Centre.
Pelfrey is on a unique schedule after pitching one inning of relief on Wednesday against the Orioles. That 14-pitch outing came two days after Pelfrey threw 83 pitches over 3 2/3 innings in a start on Monday, but that bullpen appearance was treated as part of his regular throwing schedule.
In the bigger picture, Pelfrey had been growing into a more stable source of innings. After not being able to log five full innings in four of his first five starts, he pitched beyond the five-inning plateau in four straight entering the Orioles series.
Stroman is coming off one of his strongest outings, tossing seven innings of one-run ball, while striking out six and not issuing a walk against the Mariners. Since walking an uncharacteristic four batters on May 24 in Milwaukee, Stroman has issued just one free pass over the last 19 innings.
Stroman leads the Blue Jays with seven wins, just two shy of his 2016 total.
• Pelfrey sits in the low-90s with his sinking fastball, which he throws on the majority of his pitches. His curveball, however, is over 20 mph slower on average and has gotten even slower this season. According to Statcast, Pelfrey's curve dropped from 73.4 mph to 70.23 this season, and it's a pitch that opposing hitters rarely put in play.
• After being a late scratch in the series opener, outfielder Leury Garcia could return to the starting lineup on Saturday. Garcia was still experiencing soreness in his left hand, despite entering Thursday's game as a defensive substitute.
• Blue Jays left fielder Steve Pearce returned from the DL for the series opener, but he will likely get a day of rest on Saturday with a right-hander on the mound. In his place, rookie Dwight Smith Jr. is expected to earn another start.
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*