Game Thread - A Weekend in Florida

Friday, August 16 2013 @ 06:15 PM EDT

Contributed by: Magpie

The local nine are off to Tampa Bay, and does everyone else remember those heady days in June when the Jays had drawn even with Tampa Bay and were just five games off the division lead? Also known as "The Kawasaki Era?" Or maybe you blinked and missed it.

Anyway, it's R.A. Dickey (9-11, 4.46) vs Jeremy Hellickson (10-6, 4.93) in tonight's opener. Dickey's coming off three solid starts in a row and is 2-1, 2.48 in 4 starts against the Devil Fishies this year, including a two-hit shutout on his last appearance at the Trop. Hellickson's lost his last three starts, but he's 2-0, 2.52 in four starts against the Jays this year.

Tomorrow night it'll be J.A. Happ (2-2, 5.11) against the artist formerly known as Fausto Carmona but who is now just another Roberto Hernandez (6-12, 4.95). Happ has faced the Rays once this year, and was knocked out - literally - in the second inning. Hernandez has pitched well in both starts against Toronto (0-1, 2.57), but lack of support has been the story of his season.

In Sunday afternoon's finale, Todd Redmond (1-1, 3.62) matches up with Chris Archer (6-5, 3.10). Archer out-pitched Dickey to win his earlier start against the Jays less than a month ago. Redmond has never faced the Rays.

Munenori Kawasaki won't be around this weekend - he's on paternity leave, which clears a spot for J.A. Happ, returning from bereavement leave. But a little Moonie is coming into the world!

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