Post by Commissioner Erick on Jul 6, 2022 6:50:50 GMT -5
Toronto Blue Jays (54-36) @ Boston Red Sox (65-25)
TOR: Thomas Szapucki (8-2, 3.40)
BOS: Luis Ortiz (4-2, 3.84)
Blue Jays 5 Key Stats
18: Games without a strikeout for Eric Drouet: Drouet’s ability to make contact is incredible. His strikeout rate this year is 2.23 %. Second place is Harland Guenette at 8.88 %. He’s now batting .351 with 28 doubles and 26 steals, easily leading the league in stolen bases. Drouet’s having a historic season and is one of the most exciting players in baseball.
112: Toronto’s Home Run total: Despite employing Eric Drouet who hasn’t homered this year, Toronto is third in home runs. Federico Pando has 27 and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has 23, two of just seven AL players with 20 or more. The team has contact at the top, but power in the middle to take advantage of the times Drouet gets on base.
-1.2: Zone Rating for Aaron Spigelmyer: Toronto called upon the 25-year-old Spigelmyer to make his major league debut last week, but played terrible defense. It didn’t hurt Toronto as they went 4-2, but Spigelmyer’s defense didn’t help. He’ll need to play better, or hit for a higher than .600 OPS to help Toronto.
3: Wins in 3 games in Boston for Toronto: It’s interesting that Toronto is 1-6 at home versus the Red Sox, but they went into Boston in late April and swept Boston. The Blue Jays got great starting pitching from Thomas Szapucki, Danny Richardson, and tonight’s starter, Tristan Casas in that series, and will need more of the same to tame the best offense in the league.
18: Strikeouts for Travis Crombie: Crombie’s been injured a lot in his time, but when he’s been on the mound he’s been effective. He’s only worked 10 innings this season, but has just a 0.90 ERA thanks to his amazing stuff. With a 99 mile-per-hour fastball and devastating splitter, he’s a terrific two-pitch pitcher—until his arm starts barking.
Red Sox 5 Key Stats:
.342: Right-handers’ average against Luis Ortiz: Ortiz has done well against lefties, holding them to a .221 average. Same-side hitters are batting .342 though. It’s a stat that hasn’t popped up in the past. Ortiz has been better against righties in the past by 71 points. Toronto has five righties in their lineup and it will be interesting to see how they fare against Ortiz.
1: Home series losses by Boston since April. The Red Sox have won nine of 10 series in Fenway. They’ve won 26 of 30 in that stretch, utterly decimating opponents. They did lose to St. Louis earlier this month, but their prior loss was in late April when they were swept by Toronto. Today will be a chance for the Red Sox to reestablish home dominance against Toronto.
.903: Jonathan Annis’ OPS: Annis is the next in Boston’s line of terrific prospects. He’s played 23 Games for Boston and already has eight doubles and nine walks against eight strikeouts. He’s carrying a .903 OPS that should hold as he’s older for a rookie, 26. Toronto will be getting their first look at the two-time Minor League All Star.
12: RBI’s for Jake Sanfilippo in his last 7 Games: Sanfilippo got off to a rough start, carrying a .603 OPS into April 29. He’s raised the OPS .200 points since then. The righty clubbed 35 home runs and 34 doubles last year with 115 RBIs, and even with his slow start, will likely get to those figures this year.
27: Saves for Bobby Mendez: Mendez has been lights out as a closer, saving 27 contests in 28 attempts. He leads the league and has a chance to 50. Mendez has allowed six home runs this year, but his 57 strikeouts in 40.2 innings has blown away the hitters who haven’t homered.
Questions for the GMs:
For Aaron Dunham, you have a dangerous team, but an overbudget one. How will you balance the goal of winning a title with saving money over the second half?
You DFA’d a lot of guys that passed waivers. Are you worried about morale with bringing them back?
Luis Ortiz has been weak against right-handed hitters this year. Will you add righties to your lineup to face him?
For Mike Ball, the trade deadline is less than a month away. Do you plan on adding any players?
How long will Sergio Murillo be on rehab for?
Annis has looked great since being called up. Is his Left Field job permanent, or will his role change when Inzunza is healthy?
TRIVIA: Who is the only Red Sox player to hit more than 50 home runs in a season?
TOR: Thomas Szapucki (8-2, 3.40)
BOS: Luis Ortiz (4-2, 3.84)
Blue Jays 5 Key Stats
18: Games without a strikeout for Eric Drouet: Drouet’s ability to make contact is incredible. His strikeout rate this year is 2.23 %. Second place is Harland Guenette at 8.88 %. He’s now batting .351 with 28 doubles and 26 steals, easily leading the league in stolen bases. Drouet’s having a historic season and is one of the most exciting players in baseball.
112: Toronto’s Home Run total: Despite employing Eric Drouet who hasn’t homered this year, Toronto is third in home runs. Federico Pando has 27 and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has 23, two of just seven AL players with 20 or more. The team has contact at the top, but power in the middle to take advantage of the times Drouet gets on base.
-1.2: Zone Rating for Aaron Spigelmyer: Toronto called upon the 25-year-old Spigelmyer to make his major league debut last week, but played terrible defense. It didn’t hurt Toronto as they went 4-2, but Spigelmyer’s defense didn’t help. He’ll need to play better, or hit for a higher than .600 OPS to help Toronto.
3: Wins in 3 games in Boston for Toronto: It’s interesting that Toronto is 1-6 at home versus the Red Sox, but they went into Boston in late April and swept Boston. The Blue Jays got great starting pitching from Thomas Szapucki, Danny Richardson, and tonight’s starter, Tristan Casas in that series, and will need more of the same to tame the best offense in the league.
18: Strikeouts for Travis Crombie: Crombie’s been injured a lot in his time, but when he’s been on the mound he’s been effective. He’s only worked 10 innings this season, but has just a 0.90 ERA thanks to his amazing stuff. With a 99 mile-per-hour fastball and devastating splitter, he’s a terrific two-pitch pitcher—until his arm starts barking.
Red Sox 5 Key Stats:
.342: Right-handers’ average against Luis Ortiz: Ortiz has done well against lefties, holding them to a .221 average. Same-side hitters are batting .342 though. It’s a stat that hasn’t popped up in the past. Ortiz has been better against righties in the past by 71 points. Toronto has five righties in their lineup and it will be interesting to see how they fare against Ortiz.
1: Home series losses by Boston since April. The Red Sox have won nine of 10 series in Fenway. They’ve won 26 of 30 in that stretch, utterly decimating opponents. They did lose to St. Louis earlier this month, but their prior loss was in late April when they were swept by Toronto. Today will be a chance for the Red Sox to reestablish home dominance against Toronto.
.903: Jonathan Annis’ OPS: Annis is the next in Boston’s line of terrific prospects. He’s played 23 Games for Boston and already has eight doubles and nine walks against eight strikeouts. He’s carrying a .903 OPS that should hold as he’s older for a rookie, 26. Toronto will be getting their first look at the two-time Minor League All Star.
12: RBI’s for Jake Sanfilippo in his last 7 Games: Sanfilippo got off to a rough start, carrying a .603 OPS into April 29. He’s raised the OPS .200 points since then. The righty clubbed 35 home runs and 34 doubles last year with 115 RBIs, and even with his slow start, will likely get to those figures this year.
27: Saves for Bobby Mendez: Mendez has been lights out as a closer, saving 27 contests in 28 attempts. He leads the league and has a chance to 50. Mendez has allowed six home runs this year, but his 57 strikeouts in 40.2 innings has blown away the hitters who haven’t homered.
Questions for the GMs:
For Aaron Dunham, you have a dangerous team, but an overbudget one. How will you balance the goal of winning a title with saving money over the second half?
You DFA’d a lot of guys that passed waivers. Are you worried about morale with bringing them back?
Luis Ortiz has been weak against right-handed hitters this year. Will you add righties to your lineup to face him?
For Mike Ball, the trade deadline is less than a month away. Do you plan on adding any players?
How long will Sergio Murillo be on rehab for?
Annis has looked great since being called up. Is his Left Field job permanent, or will his role change when Inzunza is healthy?
TRIVIA: Who is the only Red Sox player to hit more than 50 home runs in a season?
