With the loss of Mark Mulder, the importance of Tim Hudson to the A's playoff hopes can't be overstated. The Oakland management, players and fans will be watching carefully this afternoon as the star right-hander returns from an eight day layoff. Hudson was dominating the Jays with a two-hitter in the seventh inning last Saturday when a Dave Berg line drive hit him in the right hand, near the wrist. He was forced to leave the game, and though X-rays showed no fracture, he was held out of his next scheduled start against Pedro Martinez and the Red Sox. If he's 100%, it could be a long day for Toronto hitters. If he's not -- Jays fans know all too well that players often fib about their pain thresholds -- it will have a huge impact on the AL pennant race.
Kelvim Escobar missed the A's on the west coast swing, so this will be their first look at him this season. He faced the Mariners in his last two starts, and they weren't fooled the second time, especially Bret Boone and Edgar Martinez. Maybe it was the venue -- on the road, Kelvim is 6-1 with a 2.24 ERA; at the SkyDome he's 3-6, 5.64 with an opponent's average of .309, 88 points higher than he allows everywhere else.
There's likely to be some gnashing of teeth over the Jays' lineup, which features Dave Berg in right field and leading off. He's 3-for-9 with a homer off Hudson. Frank Catalanotto, whose back has been tender recently, returns in left. Kevin Cash is behind the plate, with Greg Myers at DH. On the crowded bench are Kielty, Johnson, Woodward, Wilson and Phelps. Of note: Carlos Delgado is 8-for-22 against Hudson, with five walks, a 1.455 OPS and four homers.
Kelvim Escobar missed the A's on the west coast swing, so this will be their first look at him this season. He faced the Mariners in his last two starts, and they weren't fooled the second time, especially Bret Boone and Edgar Martinez. Maybe it was the venue -- on the road, Kelvim is 6-1 with a 2.24 ERA; at the SkyDome he's 3-6, 5.64 with an opponent's average of .309, 88 points higher than he allows everywhere else.
There's likely to be some gnashing of teeth over the Jays' lineup, which features Dave Berg in right field and leading off. He's 3-for-9 with a homer off Hudson. Frank Catalanotto, whose back has been tender recently, returns in left. Kevin Cash is behind the plate, with Greg Myers at DH. On the crowded bench are Kielty, Johnson, Woodward, Wilson and Phelps. Of note: Carlos Delgado is 8-for-22 against Hudson, with five walks, a 1.455 OPS and four homers.
