The battered and bruised Toronto Blue Jays come limping home after a disastrous 3-7 road-trip in search of some home cooking.
The Toronto Blue Jays (44-54) head home after being swept by the Indian in Cleveland. The Athletic (44-54) recently lost a series to the New York Mets, and currently sit in last of the American League West. Toronto has a (22-24) record at home this season, while Oakland sits with a (16-31) record away from O.Co.
Pitching: 2017 Totals
TOR – (Starters) 4.81 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 1.34 HR/9, 7.9 K/9, .274/.343/.455
OAK – (Starters) 4.52 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 1.17 HR/9, 7.3 K/9, .256/.319/.420
TOR – (Relievers) 4.28 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 1.20 HR/9, 9.9 K/9, .235/.312/.403
OAK – (Relievers) 4.80 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 1.32 HR/9, 8.7 K/9, .255/.322/.435
Offenses: 2017 Totals
Toronto – R/G 4.09 – .241/.314/.403 – 280 XBH – 8.0 K/G
Oakland – R/G 4.32 – .238/.312/.423 – 320 XBH – 9.5 K/G
Game 1
First Pitch – 7:07 EST
F. Liriano LHP (2017: 5-5, 6.15 ERA) vs. C. Smith RHP (2017: 0-0, 2.77 ERA)
Francisco Liriano (6’2, 225 lbs – San Cristobal, DR)
2017 season record: (5-5, 6.15 ERA, 1.730 WHIP, 8.2 K/9), ERA+ 74, FIP 4.91, SO/W 1.63
Opponents batting average against .294/.381/.497 – BABIP .346, 2017 bWAR -0.2
Last appearance – (1.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K) – July 20th vs Boston
Career vs Oakland (5-4, 4.30 ERA, 1.261 WHIP, 10.2 K/9) – 17 G, 15 GS
Last appearance vs Athletics – (5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K) – June 7th in Oakland
2017 Home Record: (4-2, 4.60 ERA, 1.419 WHIP, 9.2 K/9) – 8 GS
Chris Smith (6’0, 190 lbs – Apple valley, CA)
2017 season record: (0-0, 2.77 ERA, 0.923 WHIP, 5.5 K/9), ERA+ 154, FIP 4.61, SO/W 2.67
Opponents batting average against .191/.235/.383 – BABIP .184, 2017 bWAR 0.4
Last appearance – (7.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) – July 18th vs Tampa Bay
Career vs Toronto – (0-0, 15.43 ERA, 2.571 WHIP, 11.6 K/9) – 1 GS
Last appearance vs Toronto – (2.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 3 K) – August 23, 2008 in Toronto
2017 Road Record: (0-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.167 WHIP, 6.0 K/9) – 1 GS
Game 2
First Pitch – 7:07 EST
C. Valdez RHP (2017: 0-0, 2.70 ERA) vs. S. Gray RHP (2017: 6-4, 3.66 ERA)
Cesar Valdez (6’2, 200 – Santo Domingo, DR)
2017 season record: (0-0, 2.70 ERA, 1.200 WHIP, 8.1 K/9), ERA+ 173, FIP 3.85, SO/W 3.00
Opponents batting average against .295/.360/.577 – BABIP .305, 2017 bWAR -0.2
Last appearance – (1.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K) – July 21st vs Cleveland
*** Has Never Face the Oakland Athletics***
***First Time Pitching in Toronto***
Sonny Gray (5’10, 190 lbs – Nashville, TN)
2017 season record: (6-4, 3.66 ERA, 1.176 WHIP, 8.4 K/9), ERA+ 113, FIP 3.38, SO/W 3.04
Opponents batting average against .230/.289/.362 – BABIP .282, 2017 bWAR 1.7
Last appearance – (6.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K) – July 19th vs Tampa Bay
Career vs Toronto – (3-1, 3.00 ERA, 1.333 WHIP, 6.0 K/9) – 5 GS
Last appearance vs Toronto – (6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K) – July 16, 2016 in Oakland
2017 Road Record: (1-2, 4.85 ERA, 1.348 WHIP, 8.2 K/9) – 5 GS
Game 3
First Pitch – 7:07 EST
M. Estrada RHP (2017: 4-7, 5.52 ERA) vs. P. Blackburn RHP (2017: 1-1, 2.88 ERA)
Marco Estrada (6’0, 180 – Sonora, MX)
2017 season record: (4-7, 5.52 ERA, 1.491 WHIP, 9.7 K/9), ERA+ 82, FIP 4.42, SO/W 2.57
Opponents batting average against .271/.340/.492 – BABIP .331, 2017 bWAR 0.6
Last appearance – (4.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 K) – July 21st vs Cleveland
Career vs Oakland (0-2, 8.38 ERA, 1.862 WHIP, 10.2 K/9) – 2 GS
Last appearance vs Athletics – (5.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 8 K) – June 6th in Oakland
2017 Home Record: (2-2, 4.89 ERA, 1.512 WHIP, 9.6 K/9) – 8 GS
Paul Blackburn (6’1, 195 lbs – Antioch, CA)
2017 season record: (1-1, 2.88 ERA, 1.160 WHIP, 3.2 K/9), ERA+ 146, FIP 4.95, SO/W 1.29
Opponents batting average against .239/.300/.370 – BABIP .238, 2017 bWAR 0.8
Last appearance – (5.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K) – July 21st vs New York Mets
*** Has Never Face the Toronto Blue Jays***
2017 Road Record: (1-1, 3.46 ERA, 1.231 WHIP, 0.7 K/9) – 2 GS
Game 4
First Pitch – 12:37 EST
M. Stroman RHP (2017: 9-5, 2.98 ERA) vs. S. Manaea LHP (2017: 8-5, 3.82 ERA)
Marcus Stroman (5’8, 180 lbs – Medford, NY)
2017 season record: (9-5, 2.98 ERA, 1.263 WHIP, 7.5 K/9), ERA+ 152, FIP 3.80, SO/W 2.84
Opponents batting average against .259/.318/.378 – BABIP .308, 2017 bWAR 4.6
Last appearance – (7.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 7 K) – July 22nd vs Cleveland
Career vs Oakland (0-0, 4.63 ERA, 1.371 WHIP, 9.3 K/9) – 2 GS
Last appearance vs Athletics – (4.2 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 5 K) – July 15, 2016 in Oakland
2017 Home Record: (4-3, 2.70 ERA, 1.185 WHIP, 7.6 K/9) – 10 GS
Sean Manaea (6’5, 245 lbs – Valparaiso, IN)
2017 season record: (8-5, 3.82 ERA, 1.245 WHIP, 8.7 K/9), ERA+ 109, FIP 3.56, SO/W 2.71
Opponents batting average against .237/.312/.373 – BABIP .297, 2017 bWAR 2.4
Last appearance – (7.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 12 K) – July 15th vs Oakland
Career vs Toronto – (1-0, 3.27 ERA, 0.909 WHIP, 9.0 K/9) – 2 G, 1 GS
Last appearance vs Toronto – (6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K) – June 5th in Oakland
2017 Road Record: (4-4, 4.01 ERA, 1.258 WHIP, 8.4 K/9) – 9 GS
*All Pitcher vs Batter Stats provided by ESPN
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Wade is a long time baseball fan who has been involved with the game for over 30 years. Including as a former college player, amateur pitching coach, and blogger.
