Game Threat: Jays (49-39) vs. Tigers (45-41)

7 years ago

Photo credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

J.A. Happ was spectacular the last time he pitched — a seven-inning, eleven strikeout, no walk, five hit gem against Cleveland — and the Jays have been damn cruising. So… uh… let’s do this!

Thing is, tonight’s Tigers starter, Mike Pelfrey (who is bad), wasn’t so terrible himself, giving up six hits and three walks over six-and-a-third, allowing just one run in the process. But that was against the dumb Rays (who are also bad), so… yeah, let’s do this!

Scuttlebutt

Hey! We did it, you guys. “Captain Canada” got into the All-Star Game by winning MLB’s “final vote” thing. The Jays have a shit-tonne of fans in this country, it turns out. Which must be why their payroll is consistently at the very top of the league *COUUUUUUUUUGH*

This one really burns me up. Drew Hutchison has been sent back to the Randy Wolf league after doing an excellent job last night, filling in for Marco Estrada. Andy Burns has been recalled instead.

Jon Heyman’s column on Thursday for Today’s Knuckleball floats the idea of the Jays being the landing spot for Jay Bruce — who they nearly traded for this spring, and who will likely be dealt by useless Cincinnati. The appeal still exists, I guess — lefty power bat with a halfway decent option for next year — but his poor defence and baserunning skills (once assets) have led to a WAR of zero despite his 120 wRC+. So… meh. Maybe the bigger question in this is what such a move would say about Jose Bautista and where the Jays think his recovery from turf toe is at. Or that’s what I’d say if it didn’t seem like Heyman is just kinda spitballin’ here. He could be a nice replacement for Justin Smoak at DH, though, as Smoak has gone cold after a scortching May (137 wRC+, with just a 44 in June and a 60 so far in July.

Dalton Pompey has recovered from his concussion and is back atop Buffalo’s lineup tonight, says a tweet from the Bisons.

Speaking of Buffalo, Ben Wagner tweets that Frankln Morales will work an inning tonight. So… that’s something.

John Lott tweets a pic of Ryan Goins, who was out on the field at Rogers Centre taking grounders today (but not throwing). Goins told reporters he expects to be back when he’s eligible to come off the DL on the 17th… or at least I’m pretty sure I saw a tweet that said that.

TV: Sportsnet
Next Game(s): Thursday vs. Detroit, 7:07 PM ET
AL East Standings: BAL (-), TOR (2), BOS (3), NYY (7.5), TBR (15.5)
And now, the lineups…