Post by Commissioner Erick on Oct 3, 2017 7:29:05 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox (64-66) @ Toronto Blue Jays (74-56)
BOS: Steven Wright (5-6, 3.80)
TOR: J.A. Happ (5-7, 3.88)
After surviving a torrid start from the Tampa Bay Rays, and a mid-season surge from the New York Yankees, the Toronto Blue Jays have weathered the storm and maintained their steady pace, overseeing command of first place in the AL East. Their opponent, the Boston Red Sox, is merely trying to stay afloat in the AL Wild Card race.
Major playoff factor in to this nationally televised matchup between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox.
Toronto, despite being associated with offense, has put up the best starting pitching ERA in baseball. They're also fourth in home runs with seven players with 16 or more so far. If they weren't second to last in batting average, they'd be running away with the division.
Joe Mazzola has worked hard to fill in the gaps of his roster with trades, prospect call-ups, waiver claims, and minor league free agents. With Aaron Sanchez on the shelf for the season, Trevor Cahill is now a starter. Previously traded by San Diego and released by Texas, he now sees himself as a pitcher in a playoff chase. Despite having a strong year with Cleveland, Lonnie Chisenhall was released in a Cleveland roster crunch. Mazzola signed him to a deal, and Chisenhall has hit .294 with a trio of home runs in a month with the team. Rowdy Tellez, despite being 22, was called up to be the team's starting first baseman. He has 20 home runs and 21 doubles in his first 100 games as a big leaguer.
The Blue Jays have needed these plays at the margins as some of their core guys have had incomplete years. Ryan Braun has 21 home runs, but with a .712 OPS and poor defense numbers. Jose Bautista has slugged the ball with 29 home runs and 87 RBIs thus far. He's only hitting .238 though and hasn't played a single inning in the field Troy Tulowitzki is playing good defense at short and has 16 home runs, but with a .305 on base percentage. However, with no absolute dogs on the roster, Toronto has been able to ride these incomplete players to a successful year.
Boston, however, needs to make a stand. They took six of seven from the Yankees and Indians, only to lose two of three to the surging Orioles. They have nine with Toronto to close, so how they fare against the Blue Jays will be pivotal in determining the playoff picture.
Steven Wright will likely face that dangerous but incomplete Toronto lineup, but it's still hazy. Jose Quintana's shoulder is acting up and while the doctors haven't found structural damage, they're shutting him down for the season. This means Brian Johnson may be called up from the minors. Boston will also be without star Jackie Bradley Jr. The outfielder strained his oblique and will likely miss the series, meaning lots of Brock Holt. With Mookie Betts already out for the year, and Adrian Beltre banged up with a knee and a hamstring injury, Boston is running out of impact guys.
It may be up to Xander Bogaerts to save the tem. He has a .348 average, four home runs, and 10 doubles this month, putting Boston on his back. Scouts believe he's taken a leap as a hitter and it couldn't have happened at a better time. He doesn't have a single extra base hit against Toronto in 10 games this year, and that will need to change for Boston to make the playoffs. If Bogaerts can't turn things around, Keegan Mackinnon will be under a lot of heat for turning in such a disappointing campaign.
Questions for the GMs:
For Keegan Mackinnon, with Quintana out and Bartolo Colon ineffective, who takes that spot in the rotation? Will it affect who starts tonight?
Who will your team start at center field with the injury to Jackie Bradley Jr.?
Dustin Pedroia has had a rough season. After suffering a torn thumb ligament, he had an OPS under .500 in July before having a nice August. How much do you feel his poor season is the result of age, injury, or luck?
For Joe Mazzola, you acquired Kelvin Herrera and Justin Wilson to shore up the back up your pen. Though Wilson has been superb, Kelvin Herrera got hurt after a nice year. How big has it been that Joe Biagini has turned in a splendid year with three home runs, 13 walks, and 74 strikeouts in 66.1 innings.
There are a lot of guys on your team who did not begin there this offseason. Which acqusition are you most pleased with?
Devon Travis has been playing through a wrist injury that hasn't healed. Kevin Pillar has a nicked up shin. What is the story with their playing time? Will we see them today? For Pillar does the injury affect his playing time with phenom Anthony Alford on the roster?
BOS: Steven Wright (5-6, 3.80)
TOR: J.A. Happ (5-7, 3.88)
After surviving a torrid start from the Tampa Bay Rays, and a mid-season surge from the New York Yankees, the Toronto Blue Jays have weathered the storm and maintained their steady pace, overseeing command of first place in the AL East. Their opponent, the Boston Red Sox, is merely trying to stay afloat in the AL Wild Card race.
Major playoff factor in to this nationally televised matchup between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox.
Toronto, despite being associated with offense, has put up the best starting pitching ERA in baseball. They're also fourth in home runs with seven players with 16 or more so far. If they weren't second to last in batting average, they'd be running away with the division.
Joe Mazzola has worked hard to fill in the gaps of his roster with trades, prospect call-ups, waiver claims, and minor league free agents. With Aaron Sanchez on the shelf for the season, Trevor Cahill is now a starter. Previously traded by San Diego and released by Texas, he now sees himself as a pitcher in a playoff chase. Despite having a strong year with Cleveland, Lonnie Chisenhall was released in a Cleveland roster crunch. Mazzola signed him to a deal, and Chisenhall has hit .294 with a trio of home runs in a month with the team. Rowdy Tellez, despite being 22, was called up to be the team's starting first baseman. He has 20 home runs and 21 doubles in his first 100 games as a big leaguer.
The Blue Jays have needed these plays at the margins as some of their core guys have had incomplete years. Ryan Braun has 21 home runs, but with a .712 OPS and poor defense numbers. Jose Bautista has slugged the ball with 29 home runs and 87 RBIs thus far. He's only hitting .238 though and hasn't played a single inning in the field Troy Tulowitzki is playing good defense at short and has 16 home runs, but with a .305 on base percentage. However, with no absolute dogs on the roster, Toronto has been able to ride these incomplete players to a successful year.
Boston, however, needs to make a stand. They took six of seven from the Yankees and Indians, only to lose two of three to the surging Orioles. They have nine with Toronto to close, so how they fare against the Blue Jays will be pivotal in determining the playoff picture.
Steven Wright will likely face that dangerous but incomplete Toronto lineup, but it's still hazy. Jose Quintana's shoulder is acting up and while the doctors haven't found structural damage, they're shutting him down for the season. This means Brian Johnson may be called up from the minors. Boston will also be without star Jackie Bradley Jr. The outfielder strained his oblique and will likely miss the series, meaning lots of Brock Holt. With Mookie Betts already out for the year, and Adrian Beltre banged up with a knee and a hamstring injury, Boston is running out of impact guys.
It may be up to Xander Bogaerts to save the tem. He has a .348 average, four home runs, and 10 doubles this month, putting Boston on his back. Scouts believe he's taken a leap as a hitter and it couldn't have happened at a better time. He doesn't have a single extra base hit against Toronto in 10 games this year, and that will need to change for Boston to make the playoffs. If Bogaerts can't turn things around, Keegan Mackinnon will be under a lot of heat for turning in such a disappointing campaign.
Questions for the GMs:
For Keegan Mackinnon, with Quintana out and Bartolo Colon ineffective, who takes that spot in the rotation? Will it affect who starts tonight?
Who will your team start at center field with the injury to Jackie Bradley Jr.?
Dustin Pedroia has had a rough season. After suffering a torn thumb ligament, he had an OPS under .500 in July before having a nice August. How much do you feel his poor season is the result of age, injury, or luck?
For Joe Mazzola, you acquired Kelvin Herrera and Justin Wilson to shore up the back up your pen. Though Wilson has been superb, Kelvin Herrera got hurt after a nice year. How big has it been that Joe Biagini has turned in a splendid year with three home runs, 13 walks, and 74 strikeouts in 66.1 innings.
There are a lot of guys on your team who did not begin there this offseason. Which acqusition are you most pleased with?
Devon Travis has been playing through a wrist injury that hasn't healed. Kevin Pillar has a nicked up shin. What is the story with their playing time? Will we see them today? For Pillar does the injury affect his playing time with phenom Anthony Alford on the roster?
