Game Threat: Jays (57-44) vs. Padres (43-58)

Photo credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports

No, it’s not Marco Estrada for the Jays this afternoon, as his scheduled start has been pushed back to Friday against Baltimore. R.A. Dickey takes the hill instead, on short rest, and in front of the screaming throngs of Camp Day kids.

Finally, I think the Jays are going to get a real solid win for the ol’ Dickster. The Padres, if you haven’t noticed, aren’t good.

Oh, sure, Alex Dickerson is definitely going to hit one to the goddamn moon at some point, but who the hell is going to be on base for that?

Let’s do this!

(Yes, I know that the Jays have won games that Dickey has pitched this year, it’s just he always seems to get shit for run support. I’m just thinking that will change here.)

It’s the debut of Melvin Upton Jr. as a starter for the Blue Jays, with Jose Bautista moving to DH for the game. In other words, this is their actual optimal lineup — provided you ignore the fact that Josh Thole is in there to catch R.A. Dickey, and that Michael Saunders and Troy Tulowitzki are getting days off also.

Joaquin Benoit is now a thing! A thing that might be terrible! But at least he’s not Drew Storen — and at least there’s a chance he figures it out. Bo Schultz was optioned back to Buffalo today to make room for him, and given all the pitching the Jays’ relievers had to do last night, maybe we see Benoit make his debut right quick.

TV: Sportsnet
Next Game(s): Friday vs. Baltimore, 7:07 PM ET
AL East Standings: BAL (-), TOR (2.0), BOS (2.5), NYY (6.5), TBR (20.0)
And now, the lineups…

Jose Bautista(R) DH

Josh Donaldson(R) 3B

Edwin Encarnacion(R) 1B

Melvin Upton Jr.(R) LF

Kevin Pillar(R) CF

Devon Travis(R) 2B

Ezequiel Carrera(L) RF

Darwin Barney(R) SS

Josh Thole(L) C

R.A. Dickey RHP

Travis Jankowski(L) CF

Wil Myers(R) RF

Matt Kemp(R) DH

Alex Dickerson(L) LF

Ryan Schimpf(L) 2B

Christian Bethancourt(R) C

Alexei Ramirez(R) SS

Brett Wallace(L) 1B

Adam Rosales(R) 3B

Luis Perdomo RHP