Post by Commissioner Erick on Jan 8, 2018 8:30:54 GMT -5
Toronto Blue Jays (3-3) @ Baltimore Orioles (3-2)
TOR: Nathan Karns (0-1, 9.00)
BAL: Dylan Bundy (0-0, 0.00)
The Toronto Blue Jays had the AL's sixth best offense last season, but have scuffled out of the gates, only producing 18 runs in six games. They'll take on the Baltimore Orioles and Dylan Bundy, a pitcher who allowed 14 runs in 18 innings against Toronto last season.
Something's got to give in this AL East showdown.
The Blue Jays' success last year was largely fueled by their pitching and defense. Their arms have done okay to start the year, but their defense put up a negative zone rating last week. It's too early for it to be meaningful, but will be something to monitor. However, they also had an offense with seven players who hit 20-plus home runs. Two players, Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista, had 38 or more. Their struggles at the heart of the lineup are representative of the team's mediocre offensive output despite underwhelming competition to start the year.
As it turns out, Donaldson is banged up with a strained rib cage he's trying to play through. It hampered him last week, resulting in two errors, a .227 average, and the .625 OPS. Now that the training staff is more aware of the malady, Donaldson may take a trip to the DL. On the other hand, the AL East is tremendously competitive, and losing such a superstar for an extended period of time may cost the Blue Jays a win or two that may keep them from winning the division or even making the playoffs.
Jose Bautista suffered through a .542 OPS, with 11 strikeouts in 24 plate appearances. Last year's AL RBI leader, Bautista is a very streaky player, and he had an excellent World Baseball Classic. At 37 years old though, Toronto must be nervous about slips in performance.
The other half of their over-32 quartet is also struggling out of the gate. Ryan Braun is hitting only .174 out of the gate, without an RBI, while Russell Martin went 1-15. Toronto will need those veterans to turn things around as the team faces better lineups they can't overwhelm with pitching.
The Orioles finished last year a disappointing 79-83, largely the product of a disappointing rotation. They're counting on internal development from starters like Dylan Bundy. Bundy had a 4.64 ERA last year, largely representative with a 4.27 FIP. His issue was that he simply didn't strike guys out despite having great stuff.
Scouts feel that he's refined some of his secondaries, which should help with putting hitters away. He's always thrown hard, but he now has a cutter, curveball, and changeup to go with the live fastball. For Baltimore's sake, those pitches are good enough to make Bundy a front line starter. Against an offense like Toronto's, how he fares will be an exciting window into the pitcher who may make or break Baltimore's season.
Questions for the GMs:
For Joe Mazolla, the big topic is Josh Donaldson. Will you put him on the disabled list or try to pitch him through this injury?
You let Kevin Pillar go in the offseason, turning the center field reigns over to Anthony Alford. What do you expect out of him this season?
Your bullpen as a group right now has a strikeouts per nine of over 18. Obviously you inherited some of those arms, but what made you go out and target the additions you have, guys like Kelvin Herrera, and Toshiya Sugiuchi?
For Jeff Jennings, your bullpen struggled last year, and with the exception of Zach Britton and Donnie Hart, is struggling this year. What can you do to get reliable relief work.
Adam Jones spent most of last year hitting second, first, or cleanup. This year he's batting seventh. Would you move him up if he's unhappy?
Anthony Santander is a guy in Triple-A who has a lot of hype, if not too much in the way of Triple-A production yet. Will we see him this year?
TOR: Nathan Karns (0-1, 9.00)
BAL: Dylan Bundy (0-0, 0.00)
The Toronto Blue Jays had the AL's sixth best offense last season, but have scuffled out of the gates, only producing 18 runs in six games. They'll take on the Baltimore Orioles and Dylan Bundy, a pitcher who allowed 14 runs in 18 innings against Toronto last season.
Something's got to give in this AL East showdown.
The Blue Jays' success last year was largely fueled by their pitching and defense. Their arms have done okay to start the year, but their defense put up a negative zone rating last week. It's too early for it to be meaningful, but will be something to monitor. However, they also had an offense with seven players who hit 20-plus home runs. Two players, Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista, had 38 or more. Their struggles at the heart of the lineup are representative of the team's mediocre offensive output despite underwhelming competition to start the year.
As it turns out, Donaldson is banged up with a strained rib cage he's trying to play through. It hampered him last week, resulting in two errors, a .227 average, and the .625 OPS. Now that the training staff is more aware of the malady, Donaldson may take a trip to the DL. On the other hand, the AL East is tremendously competitive, and losing such a superstar for an extended period of time may cost the Blue Jays a win or two that may keep them from winning the division or even making the playoffs.
Jose Bautista suffered through a .542 OPS, with 11 strikeouts in 24 plate appearances. Last year's AL RBI leader, Bautista is a very streaky player, and he had an excellent World Baseball Classic. At 37 years old though, Toronto must be nervous about slips in performance.
The other half of their over-32 quartet is also struggling out of the gate. Ryan Braun is hitting only .174 out of the gate, without an RBI, while Russell Martin went 1-15. Toronto will need those veterans to turn things around as the team faces better lineups they can't overwhelm with pitching.
The Orioles finished last year a disappointing 79-83, largely the product of a disappointing rotation. They're counting on internal development from starters like Dylan Bundy. Bundy had a 4.64 ERA last year, largely representative with a 4.27 FIP. His issue was that he simply didn't strike guys out despite having great stuff.
Scouts feel that he's refined some of his secondaries, which should help with putting hitters away. He's always thrown hard, but he now has a cutter, curveball, and changeup to go with the live fastball. For Baltimore's sake, those pitches are good enough to make Bundy a front line starter. Against an offense like Toronto's, how he fares will be an exciting window into the pitcher who may make or break Baltimore's season.
Questions for the GMs:
For Joe Mazolla, the big topic is Josh Donaldson. Will you put him on the disabled list or try to pitch him through this injury?
You let Kevin Pillar go in the offseason, turning the center field reigns over to Anthony Alford. What do you expect out of him this season?
Your bullpen as a group right now has a strikeouts per nine of over 18. Obviously you inherited some of those arms, but what made you go out and target the additions you have, guys like Kelvin Herrera, and Toshiya Sugiuchi?
For Jeff Jennings, your bullpen struggled last year, and with the exception of Zach Britton and Donnie Hart, is struggling this year. What can you do to get reliable relief work.
Adam Jones spent most of last year hitting second, first, or cleanup. This year he's batting seventh. Would you move him up if he's unhappy?
Anthony Santander is a guy in Triple-A who has a lot of hype, if not too much in the way of Triple-A production yet. Will we see him this year?
