Game Threat: Jays (13-15) vs. Rangers (15-12)

Photo Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Blue Jays have gotten 112 plate appearances from Troy Tulowitzki, and there’s good news! 

He’s been healty enough to give them 112 plate appearnces. He can play defence! He’s well above his career walk rate! His ISO is slightly above last year’s mark (the second-lowest of his career)! His hard contact ranks in the top 100 among 197 qualified hitters! He’s not hitting infield flyballs! His HR/FB rate is up!

Therrrrre’s also been some bad news, in case you hadn’t noticed. He’s striking out 29.5% of the time. His wRC+ is 69 (not nice). He’s sporting an MLB-worst 7.8% line drive rate. He’s been more pull heavy than ever before in his career (54.7% compared to a career rate of 42%). He’s making contact on 74.4% of his swings at balls in the zone, compared to 85% last year (a career low in its own right). His yearly swinging strike rate, starting with 2012 has gone: 4.4%, 6.5%, 7.1%, 9.4%, 10.9%.

It’s been a bit of a mess. And John Gibbons, evidently has noticed. Tulo has been dropped below Justin Smoak in tonight’s lineup. I… don’t like how I feel about this.

The way he’s been going, I might be running out of chances to highlight the tough left-handed hitters he’ll be facing each time he’s on mound. But I’ll give that at least one more shot, because there are two tough ones at the top of the Rangers’ lineup tonight: Rougie Odor and Nomar Mazara. Damn.

TV: Sportsnet

Next Game(s): Tomorrow, vs. Rangers, 7:07 PM ET

Michael Saunders(L) LF

Josh Donaldson(R) 3B

Jose Bautista(R) RF

Edwin Encarnacion(R) DH

Justin Smoak(S) 1B

Troy Tulowitzki(R) SS

Kevin Pillar(R) CF

Russell Martin(R) C

Ryan Goins(L) 2B

RHP Aaron Sanchez

Rougned Odor(L) 2B

Nomar Mazara(L) RF

Adrian Beltre(R) 3B

Prince Fielder(L) DH

Ian Desmond(R) CF

Mitch Moreland(L) 1B

Elvis Andrus(R) SS

Ryan Rua(R) LF

Bobby Wilson(R) C

RHP Colby Lewis