Game Threat: Jays (57-45) vs. Orioles (58-43)

7 years ago

Photo credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Here we go! It’s been a good season, Baltimore, and you really gave us all a real scare there for a bit, but daddy’s home and he wants to use the den now, so… you understand, eh?

Yes, the fucking trash birds are in town and ready to disappoint the fine people of Maryland once again.

Baltimore is a game and a half up on the Blue Jays, having just lost three in a row, and shit is about to get lit, quite frankly. Marco Estrada had his scheduled Wednesday start pushed back to today, and while that’s maybe a touch scary for Jays fans, it at least means that the club will be throwing the best they’ve got, in terms of pitchers, at their division rivals. Estrada, J.A. Happ, and Aaron Sanchez will start the three games in this series, and… holy shit, things had better go well, because that means the still-not-through-struggling Marcus Stroman and R.A. Dickey’s capricious animal in the just-as-important series in Houston that will follow.

That is, unless the Jays rotation looks different come Monday afternoon at 4 PM. Chris Cotillo tweets that the club is one of the few with interest in Braves reliever Jim Johnson, while on the TV, apparently Shi David reported that the Jays are looking at Rich Hill — who the A’s “aren’t going to give away” — and Jeremy Hellickson of the… I want to say Phillies.

Hill’s an interesting option. Hellickson is… a guy who pitches baseballs. But, honestly, who cares right now? Let’s go fuck up these trash birds! Kevin Gausman? More like Kevin LOSSman, AMIRIGHT???

Scuttlebutt

Jayson Stark of ESPN.com wrote an excellent piece on the Jays’ Aaron Sanchez situation, and also mentions Hellickson, who he suggests “at least could provide reasonably dependable innings, for a return they could probably afford.” He’s actually having a nice year, so… sure.

You’ll hear his name a few times on this week’s podcast, when I finally get it posted, but the Jays are also looking at Boone Logan of the Rockies, according to a tweet from Jon Morosi. Morosi also suggests that the Jays have been looking at a bunch of left-handed relief options, because… Cecil.

Both Logan and Hellickson are rentals. Johnson, too.

Oh yeah, and the Jays added Erik Kratz as minor league catching help. Sure. OK.

TV: Sportsnet
Next Game(s): Saturday and Sunday vs. Baltimore, 1:07 PM ET
AL East Standings: BAL (-), TOR (1.5), BOS (2.5), NYY (6.0), TBR (18.0)
And now, the lineups…