This week is AL east week for the Jays, Baltimore for three followed by the Red Sox. The Jays and Orioles take up from where they left off nine days ago when the Jays won the series 2-1. In that series Dustin McGowan and Mark Buehrle got the wins while Todd Redmond took the loss in a game started by Drew Hutchison. Two of the three starters in that series for both teams will start again this week.

The affiliates posted a .750 winning percentage in their four games Monday night. Two of the three wins were decided in extras and the lone loss was of the one-run variety.

Today all of the Jays affiliates had the day off for Easter Sunday!

After a sweep on Friday the four minor league teams lost on Saturday. The only win was from Buffalo who split a doubleheader. Matt Tuiasosopo hit a two run home run for the win. Chad Jenkins pitched five good innings in a spot start. Sean Nolin pitched six shutout innings in the opener but the bullpen lost the game. Matt Boyd pitched well for Dunedin but the bullpen lost his game too. Deck McGuire was decent but the bullpen lost that game. The Lugnuts game followed a different pattern, starter Tom Robson did not get out of the first inning.

Having been swept on Thursday the affiliates went 5-0 on Friday thanks to great pitching. Kendall Graveman almost had a no-hitter, Daniel Norris and Kramer Champlin had a combined one hitter and Aaron Sanchez pitched well.

"All this energy calling me, back where it comes from..."

It wasn’t a good day in the minors, as Toronto’s affiliates went 0-for-4 with a rainout. Buffalo was swept in a doubleheader after a comeback with two outs in the bottom of the last inning in the first game. Meanwhile, neither the Fisher Cats nor the Lugnuts could muster much at the plate.

Marcus Stroman had his best performance of the season in chilly Buffalo where the temperature was 2 degrees Celsius.  Dunedin won again bringing their record to 11-2, and Lansing played a double header through some chilly weather as well.

Only one game on the farm on Tuesday as Mother Nature and Old Man Winter did their worst, except in Dunedin, where the Jays bats did the damage.

Two wins and two postponements were the story on Monday. Great pitching and timely offence were the keys to victory.

The Jays are visiting Minnesota for 3 games. Sadly, since it is weekdays I cannot get down there (5-6 hour drive). Sigh.

The affiliates were 1-3 today, with the only win coming from Dunedin(8-2) as they continue to play well early in the season.  Aaron Sanchez, and Sean Nolin had disappointing starts in AA, and AAA respectively.

All four starters had excellent starts but only three of them got a win. Liam Hendricks and Daniel Norris pitched shutout ball for 5.2 and 6 innings respectively. Casey Lawrence and Kendall Graveman each allowed just one run. Lawrence was helped by Kevin Nolan who was 4-4 with a home run. Graveman was let down by the Lansing bullpen who coughed up his lead.

Anthony Gose and Juan Francisco each had a hit in the first and second innings to jump start the Bisons to a lead they never gave up. Kyle Drabek got the win although his numbers were only average. New Hampshire were soundly beaten as were Dunedin although Emilio Guerrero hit his first home run of the year. Dwight Smith was shut out. Lansing had a lead headed to the ninth but blew up good. Carlos Ramirez had three hits.

The Jays have played ten games under the roof to start the season, that ends tonight with a trip into Baltimore. The Jays face Chris Tillman, Bud Norris and Ubaldo Jimenez. That is one tough match-up and two more favourable ones. Tillman was the O's opening day starter and pitched well last time out. Noriis and Jimenez have not pitched as well and Ubaldo has not lived up to his contract, yet.

The Jays counter with Dustin McGowan, Drew Hutchison and Mark Buehrle. Both McGowan and Hutchison are coming off poor starts and looking to right the ship before Happy Happ shows up.