They're evil, they're imperial, they're coming to town.
The road trip (5-2 so far!) concludes in Florida.
Because it's clearly needed.
Atkins said something the other day that got my attention, although it seems to have passed more or less unnoticed.
The new and dis-improved Jays head into Baltimore for another battle of the de-fledged birds. The newest Jay, and Ross Atkins fanboy, Derek Fisher will be on hand as will Trent Thornton and Jason Adam. Adam, who was in the majors with kansas City last season, has pitched in eight games for Buffalo.
Since beating up the Orioles right after the all-star break, the Rays have lost three straight series versus the Yankees, Red Sox and White Sox. The Rays looked like they were headed for a wild card spot but now find themselves on the outside. The Rays have lost Kevin Kiermaier, Blake Snell and Yandy Diaz over the last week. The Jays will not miss facing Snell, and Kiermaier always seems to play well against the Jays. The Jays come off an off day and will navigate "maximum rumour weekend" (tm).
The Jays will try and win a series against a good team with three at home against the Clevelanders. They start the series with a roster move. Trent Thornton to the IL with elbow inflammation, Ryan Borucki activated.
The #BlueJays continue their road trip with a stop in Beantown. #LetsGoBlueJays
Jim Bouton's playing career was not without accomplishment.
It's the battle of the birds as the final match-up before the all-star break. Baltimore are in first place for the number one pick next season with their 25-61 record. The Blue Jays are a full seven games better, in fourth. Your Blue Jays have been playing better but there are some enforced changes for this weekend. Marcus Stroman will not pitch before the break, resting his "cramp" that's obviously was not a cramp. The enigma, wrapped in a riddle that is Aaron Sanchez will pitch tonight, who knows what that will bring.
I know, it's four weeks away.
The Jays take their good, Royals level, form against the jet-lagged Red Sox. Can the Jays hitters continue their good hitting against the three big Red Sox starters? Will the Red Sox have any carry-over from their London trip? Maybe they will get sleepy in the middle innings, it will be bed time in London at game time.
If memory serves Wells Aug 92, Doc Apr 99/00, and Carpenter sometime in 02. I wonder where Sanchez's month ranks?
Here you go, christaylor!
Its a long weekend, four game, battle at the bottom with the teams with the third and fourth fewest wins in baseball battling it out for draft pick order. For the Jays Justin Smoak is back and Billy McKinney is gone, to Buffalo we assume.
Your Blue Jays head into Boston with one thing on their minds....can we win one game in this series? That's how things have been going recently. Boston have had an up and down season so far, and many would say they have disappointed, but their record is 41-35 and they would be in the playoffs if the season ended now. The Red Sox have won seven of their last eight games and their only loss in that spell came in 17 innings. As it happens, the Red Sox throw out three starters against the Jays with none of them having a winning record. But don't get your hopes up. Chris Sale is 3-7, Rick Porcello 5-6, and Saturday's starter, Brian Johnson, is 1-1.
It's a tough Fathers Day weekend for the Jays, they will do well to win one game. It's also the "Biggio goes home" weekend and the "Gurriel brothers" weekend.