A Birds' Franchise.....

[enyc718]

Upcoming Series

Los Angeles Angels (22-15)
Toronto Blue Jays (20-19)

Series Probables:

Gm 1: Jered Weaver vs Marco Estrada
Gm 2: CJ Wilson vs Drew Hutchinson
Gm 3: Tyler Skaggs vs Aaron Sanchez
Gm 4: Garrett Richards vs Marcus Stroman

Starting third baseman for the Angels, David Freese, comes into this series batting .429 in the month of May (.291 for the season).

OF Mike Trout, has a batting average of .303 and is 3rd in the AL in homeruns with 14.

OF Jose Bautista walks into the series 8-20 in his last five games.

Around The League

Kansas City Royals P -Edinson Volquez - is still out with a broken ankle. He's expected to stay on the DL for another 2 months.

Washington Nationals P -Max Scherzer- suffered a head fracture and will be out 6+ months. His season is done. Scherzer had a 3-2 record with a 4.02 ERA and 53 strikeouts.

Chicago Cubs P -Jason Hammel- is out 1-2 months with a fractured wrist.

Not a good month for pitchers around the league.

[enyc718]

Saunders, Jays Walk Off in 10

Game Recap:


Toronto pitcher Marco Estrada got the spot start this go around and was he great. Exactly what a team wants when they a spot start from a pitcher.

In the bottom of the 3rd, Justin Smoak hits a solo shot. 1-0 Jays. In the 4th with 2 outs and Mike Trout on 2nd, Albert Pujols grounds out to third but Josh Donaldson with the erratic throw to first allows Trout to score and Pujols advances to 2nd.

The game stayed tied through the 9th. In the bottom of the tenth, Michael Saunders became hero as he blasted a solo shot to right field to win the game.

Marco Estrada's Line:
7.0IP, 4H, 1R, 7K

Jered Weaver's Line:
8.0IP, 5H, 1ER, 4BB, 4K

[enyc718]

Jays Fall To Angels to Even Series

Game Recap:


Despite a solo homerun by Josh Donaldson in the bottom of the second and a 2-run shot in the 4th by Jose Bautista, Blue Jays closer was not able to put the game in the 9th. Miguel Castro was charged with his first blown save and loss of the season. "I definitely second guessed myself tonight. I went back and forth on Castro and if I should use him again to close, but he has been great in that role. He is absolutely our closer but I will give him a day or two before he comes in the 9th again, that's for sure," said Manager John Gibbons.

Castro gave up two hits, two walks and 2 runs in the 9th. Angels closer Huston Street was able to close the door for his team by striking out Edwin Encarnacion & Jose Bautista and then getting Donaldson to ground out to end the game.

[enyc718]

Few Hits, Fewer Runs, No Problem

Game Recap:

Aaron Sanchez did not need much run support in this game. The opposing pitcher, Tyler Skaggs didn't get any support. The Blue Jays runs came on an Edwin Encarnacion single in the third, then in the fifth inning, AJ Jimenez scores on a sac fly.

So much for John Gibbons giving Miguel Castro the night off if he was needed, "Okay, so maybe I went against my word. Miguel Castro has been so dependent in that role, I truly trust the kid when we need to close out a game. Don't kill me okay guys."

[enyc718]

Game Recap:

The Blue Jays were looking to reel off another series win. With Jose Bautista getting the rest, Kevin Pillar was moved to RF alongside Dalton Pompey in CF and Michael Saunders in LF. Marcus Stroman started the game strong by striking out the side in the first. Of the first 6 Angels to bat, 5 struckout.

Josh Donaldson came into today's game with an 11 game hit streak, which he extended in second inning. With Pillar and Donaldson on base, Justin Smoak hits a 3-run shot to give the Jays a 3-0 lead.

Russell Martin well behind the plate, throwing out Mike Trout & Erick Aybar trying to steal second base in the third inning. In the top of the 7th, the Angels cut the lead to 3-1 but the Jays pitching held the bats in check as they did for most of the series.

The Jays seem to be hitting a stride as they are in second place in the AL East, 3.5 games behind of the Rays.

[enyc718]

Upcoming Series

Toronto- The Blue Jays are definitely feeling good about themselves as of late, having won their last 5 series. Three of them against division foes and three out of four against the Astros and Angels. Mostly close games, the credit goes to their pitching.

Coming into this season Toronto was expected to have one of the top offenses in the league and their pitching was going to be a big question mark with a handful of young arms. So far the Blue Jays are proving their pitching is no slouch.


Staying in the AL West, the Jays welcome home the Seattle Mariners. This matchup will pit the Jays who are second in the league in team ERA and the Mariners who are fifth in that same category.

The Mariners come into this series in 4th place but only 2.5 games out of first in the west behind the Angels. The Blue Jays are second in the AL East and 3.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays.

Pitching Probables

Felix Hernandez (3-1) vs R.A. Dickey (3-4)
Hisashi Iwakuma (4-3) vs Mark Buerhle (3-5)
Taijuan Walker (1-3) vs Marcus Stroman (5-1)

[enyc718]

Around The League - 5/22/2015



A's pitcher, AJ Griffin, is out 6+ months with a head fracture when he got hit with a line drive. Griffin was 3-2 with a 2.28 ERA and 49 strikeouts. He should be ready by spring training.

Astros have promoted Carlos Correa to AAA.

The Mets are keeping a close eye on OF Curtis Granderson. Having been on a of late, Granderson might see the bench or be moved.

Teams around the league are saying the Cardinals third baseman, Matt Carpenter's stock is rising. Could he be someone that is moved in July? As well as CF Charlie Blackmon for the Colorado Rockies.

[enyc718]

Toronto - The Blue Jays pitching continues to strike hot. R.A. Dickey continued his hot streak as well. The knuckleball pitcher had his #1 pitch dancing everywhere but inside the strikezone and Mariner batters were left bamboozled.

The jays scored in the bottom of the second courtesy of an RBI double by Justin Smoak and again it was Smoak again in the bottom of the fifth when he homered. Kevin Pillar would later score that inning via a sac fly to make it 3-0 Jays.

The Blue Jays only blunder of the game came in the top of the sixth when Jose Bautista misjudged a ball hit from Willie Bloomquist in right field. Bloomquist would later score on a fielders choice to make it 3-1, which would be the final score.