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TORONTO ( BUEHRLE )
TAMPA BAY ( ARCHER ) |
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| 917 | TORONTO | +130 | Ov 7.5,-105 | +125 | Ov 7.5,+120 | | 918 | TAMPA BAY | -140 | Un 7.5,-115 | -135 | Un 7.5,-140 |
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| All Games | 9-9 | -1.7 | 10-7 | 5.5 | 0.250 | 0.317 | 0.437 | 0.754 | 5.1 | 0.253 | 0.329 | 0.437 | 0.766 | | Road Games | 4-4 | +0.2 | 5-2 | 5.4 | 0.229 | 0.282 | 0.380 | 0.662 | 5.4 | 0.264 | 0.331 | 0.479 | 0.810 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 6-7 | -2.7 | 6-6 | 5.4 | 0.240 | 0.318 | 0.417 | 0.735 | 4.6 | 0.243 | 0.324 | 0.399 | 0.723 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | +0.3 | 4-3 | 5.3 | 0.270 | 0.339 | 0.491 | 0.830 | 5.7 | 0.271 | 0.338 | 0.458 | 0.796 | | Dome Games | 0-2 | -2 | 1-1 | 2.5 | 0.185 | 0.209 | 0.354 | 0.563 | 8.0 | 0.319 | 0.365 | 0.580 | 0.945 | | Day Games | 4-1 | +2.6 | 3-2 | 7.2 | 0.283 | 0.361 | 0.491 | 0.852 | 4.6 | 0.246 | 0.311 | 0.419 | 0.731 | | Division | 8-7 | +0.5 | 8-6 | 5.6 | 0.242 | 0.310 | 0.413 | 0.723 | 4.9 | 0.249 | 0.324 | 0.432 | 0.756 |
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| All Games | 5.5 | 0.250 | 0.317 | 18 | 600 | 150 | 35 | 1 | 25 | 0.437 | 92 | 59 | 130 | 10 | 106 | 14 | 10 | 16 | 10 | | Road Games | 5.4 | 0.229 | 0.282 | 8 | 271 | 62 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 0.380 | 37 | 20 | 68 | 6 | 41 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 2 | | Righty Starters | 5.4 | 0.240 | 0.318 | 13 | 429 | 103 | 28 | 0 | 16 | 0.417 | 64 | 49 | 97 | 7 | 86 | 5 | 8 | 15 | 10 |
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| All Games | 4.52 | 1.307 | 59.7 | 34 | 30 | 55 | 8 | 23 | 64 | 2-4 | 4 | 3 | 57.1% | | Road Games | 5.84 | 1.216 | 24.7 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 3 | 10 | 30 | 1-2 | 2 | 2 | 50% |
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| All Games | 10-8 | +2.4 | 10-8 | 4.2 | 0.239 | 0.318 | 0.398 | 0.716 | 4.2 | 0.212 | 0.287 | 0.354 | 0.641 | | Home Games | 5-6 | -1.2 | 7-4 | 3.7 | 0.235 | 0.310 | 0.384 | 0.694 | 3.9 | 0.210 | 0.285 | 0.368 | 0.653 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 2-3 | -0.8 | 2-3 | 3.8 | 0.224 | 0.309 | 0.366 | 0.676 | 4.6 | 0.247 | 0.309 | 0.380 | 0.689 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | +1 | 4-3 | 4.0 | 0.248 | 0.309 | 0.389 | 0.698 | 3.7 | 0.225 | 0.292 | 0.359 | 0.652 | | Dome Games | 5-6 | -1.2 | 7-4 | 3.7 | 0.235 | 0.310 | 0.384 | 0.694 | 3.9 | 0.210 | 0.285 | 0.368 | 0.653 | | Day Games | 2-2 | -0.1 | 3-1 | 3.7 | 0.268 | 0.322 | 0.471 | 0.793 | 4.0 | 0.223 | 0.289 | 0.400 | 0.689 | | Division | 8-7 | +1.3 | 8-7 | 3.8 | 0.231 | 0.311 | 0.378 | 0.689 | 4.0 | 0.210 | 0.286 | 0.358 | 0.643 |
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| All Games | 4.2 | 0.239 | 0.318 | 18 | 590 | 141 | 32 | 4 | 18 | 0.398 | 73 | 68 | 150 | 13 | 119 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 11 | | Home Games | 3.7 | 0.235 | 0.310 | 11 | 349 | 82 | 15 | 2 | 11 | 0.384 | 38 | 38 | 96 | 4 | 69 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 8 | | Lefty Starters | 3.8 | 0.224 | 0.309 | 5 | 161 | 36 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0.366 | 19 | 20 | 43 | 6 | 34 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 3 |
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| All Games | 4.36 | 1.172 | 64 | 31 | 31 | 49 | 8 | 26 | 58 | 5-2 | 9 | 1 | 90% | | Home Games | 3.18 | 0.908 | 39.7 | 14 | 14 | 21 | 5 | 15 | 42 | 4-1 | 4 | 1 | 80% |
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| 4/12/2015 | HUTCHISON(R) | @ BALTIMORE | TILLMAN(R) | 10-7 | W | 105 | 8 un | O | 9 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 1 | | 4/13/2015 | DICKEY(R) | TAMPA BAY | ODORIZZI(R) | 1-2 | L | -130 | 8.5 ov | U | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 | | 4/14/2015 | NORRIS(L) | TAMPA BAY | ANDRIESE(R) | 2-3 | L | -145 | 8 ov | U | 8 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 0 | | 4/15/2015 | BUEHRLE(L) | TAMPA BAY | RAMIREZ(L) | 12-7 | W | -135 | 8.5 ov | O | 13 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 1 | | 4/16/2015 | SANCHEZ(R) | TAMPA BAY | ARCHER(R) | 2-4 | L | +100 | 8.5 un | U | 4 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 0 | | 4/17/2015 | HUTCHISON(R) | ATLANTA | TEHERAN(R) | 7-8 | L | -155 | 7.5 ov | O | 11 | 7 | 1 | 12 | 10 | 0 | | 4/18/2015 | DICKEY(R) | ATLANTA | WOOD(L) | 6-5 | W | -170 | 8 ov | O | 13 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 0 | | 4/19/2015 | NORRIS(L) | ATLANTA | MILLER(R) | 2-5 | L | -170 | 8.5 ov | U | 5 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 0 | | 4/21/2015 | BUEHRLE(L) | BALTIMORE | NORRIS(R) | 13-6 | W | -125 | 9 un | O | 16 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 7 | 2 | | 4/22/2015 | SANCHEZ(R) | BALTIMORE | JIMENEZ(R) | 4-2 | W | +105 | 9 un | U | 9 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 1 | | 4/23/2015 | HUTCHISON(R) | BALTIMORE | TILLMAN(R) | 7-6 | W | -125 | 8.5 un | O | 7 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | | 4/24/2015 | DICKEY(R) | @ TAMPA BAY | SMYLY(L) | 3-12 | L | 115 | 7.5 un | O | 6 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 0 | | 4/25/2015 | NORRIS(L) | @ TAMPA BAY | RAMIREZ(L) | 2-4 | L | -105 | 8.5 un | U | 6 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 0 | | 4/26/2015 | BUEHRLE(L) | @ TAMPA BAY | ARCHER(R) | | | 4/27/2015 | SANCHEZ(R) | @ BOSTON | KELLY(R) | | | 4/28/2015 | HUTCHISON(R) | @ BOSTON | BUCHHOLZ(R) | | | 4/29/2015 | DICKEY(R) | @ BOSTON | PORCELLO(R) | | | 4/30/2015 | | @ CLEVELAND | | | | 5/1/2015 | | @ CLEVELAND | | | | 5/2/2015 | | @ CLEVELAND | | | | 5/3/2015 | | @ CLEVELAND | | |
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| 4/12/2015 | KARNS(R) | @ MIAMI | ALVAREZ(R) | 8-5 | W | 110 | 7.5 un | O | 14 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 1 | | 4/13/2015 | ODORIZZI(R) | @ TORONTO | DICKEY(R) | 2-1 | W | 120 | 8.5 ov | U | 3 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | | 4/14/2015 | ANDRIESE(R) | @ TORONTO | NORRIS(L) | 3-2 | W | 135 | 8 ov | U | 7 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 1 | | 4/15/2015 | RAMIREZ(L) | @ TORONTO | BUEHRLE(L) | 7-12 | L | 125 | 8.5 ov | O | 11 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 1 | | 4/16/2015 | ARCHER(R) | @ TORONTO | SANCHEZ(R) | 4-2 | W | -110 | 8.5 un | U | 8 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 1 | | 4/17/2015 | KARNS(R) | NY YANKEES | WARREN(R) | 4-5 | L | +100 | 7.5 un | O | 8 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | | 4/18/2015 | ODORIZZI(R) | NY YANKEES | TANAKA(R) | 0-9 | L | +100 | 7 un | O | 3 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 0 | | 4/19/2015 | ANDRIESE(R) | NY YANKEES | PINEDA(R) | 3-5 | L | +120 | 7 ov | O | 9 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 10 | 0 | | 4/21/2015 | ARCHER(R) | BOSTON | MILEY(L) | 0-1 | L | -115 | 7.5 un | U | 4 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 0 | | 4/22/2015 | KARNS(R) | BOSTON | KELLY(R) | 7-5 | W | +115 | 7.5 ov | O | 12 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 | | 4/23/2015 | ODORIZZI(R) | BOSTON | BUCHHOLZ(R) | 2-1 | W | -120 | 7.5 un | U | 6 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0 | | 4/24/2015 | SMYLY(L) | TORONTO | DICKEY(R) | 12-3 | W | -125 | 7.5 un | O | 13 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 1 | | 4/25/2015 | RAMIREZ(L) | TORONTO | NORRIS(L) | 4-2 | W | -105 | 8.5 un | U | 9 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 0 | | 4/26/2015 | ARCHER(R) | TORONTO | BUEHRLE(L) | | | 4/27/2015 | KARNS(R) | @ NY YANKEES | WARREN(R) | | | 4/28/2015 | ODORIZZI(R) | @ NY YANKEES | TANAKA(R) | | | 4/29/2015 | SMYLY(L) | @ NY YANKEES | PINEDA(R) | | | 5/1/2015 | | @ BALTIMORE | | | | 5/2/2015 | | @ BALTIMORE | | | | 5/3/2015 | | @ BALTIMORE | | |
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| |  | TORONTO: TORONTO (AP) - The upcoming season for the Toronto Blue Jays seems destined to be defined by the one young pitcher who'll miss it and the two even younger guys who'll try to replace him.
Toronto's plans for ending baseball's longest active playoff drought took a serious hit when Marcus Stroman suffered a season-ending knee injury in spring training.
The second-year right-hander tore a ligament when his knee buckled as he backed off a bunt during a pregame fielding drill. He's out for the year after undergoing surgery.
''It's tough,'' Stroman said. ''I just feel like I let my team down. I've worked harder than I ever had this offseason.''
The injury changed Toronto's thinking about 22-year-old right-hander Aaron Sanchez, who might have been closing games rather than starting them if Stroman was still healthy, and 21-year-old lefty Daniel Norris, the van-dwelling surfer dude.
The two pitchers now look likely to get their shot in Toronto's rotation, slotting in behind 200-inning workhorses R.A Dickey and Mark Buehrle, and 24-year-old right-hander Drew Hutchison.
How successful they are could well determine what happens to the Blue Jays, out of the postseason since winning their second straight World Series in 1993 and the only team that hasn't reached the playoffs this century.
''We may have to rely on a young guy who may not be proven,'' manager John Gibbons said. ''Stro was a baby, too, but a special guy.''
Sanchez has already shown signs that he could also be special. He excelled out of the bullpen in 24 games last season, posting three saves and a 1.09 ERA in 33 innings, striking out 27 while walking nine and holding opponents to a .128 average.
With the increased demands of a starting role lying ahead, the hard-throwing Sanchez has spent this spring refining his slider.
''With the way he throws, it could turn into a big strikeout pitch for him,'' Gibbons said.
The Blue Jays are also high on Norris, currently better known for spending his winters searching for prime surfing spots while living out of a 1978 Volkswagen camper van nicknamed ''Shaggy.''
''He's a different bird,'' Gibbons said. ''Anytime you live in a van, I wouldn't say that's normal.''
Norris had an abnormal 2014 season, rising from Class A to the majors after going 12-2 with a 2.53 ERA at three minor league stops. He underwent elbow surgery last October to remove bone spurs, and expects to be better this year than the pitcher who made five appearances for the Blue Jays in September.
''He's a student of the game,'' Gibbons said. ''He's a very smart kid and he's grounded. He's got the most important thing: He's got a great arm.''
After Jose Reyes and the Blue Jays went 83-79, here's what else to watch as they try to move up:
MIGHTY MIGUEL: Sanchez and Norris aren't the only impressive young arms expected to break camp with the Blue Jays. Right-hander Miguel Castro, 20, didn't allow a run in his first five spring appearances, striking out eight and walking none while allowing three hits over nine innings. A hard thrower who stands an imposing 6-foot-5, Castro has put himself in position to jump from Class A, where he went 8-3 with a 2.68 ERA last season, all the way to the majors. ''He looks like a seasoned vet out there, under control, very relaxed,'' Gibbons said.
NEW GUYS, NEW FOCUS: Toronto strengthened its lineup over the winter by signing free agent catcher Russell Martin to a five-year, $82 million contract and acquiring All-Star third baseman Josh Donaldson from Oakland. Slugger Jose Bautista has praised the newcomers for making a difference in the clubhouse with their winning pedigree and intense focus. ''We need something along those lines here every now and then,'' Bautista said. ''It's good to have guys to whom winning matters.''
BLOCKING THE PLATE: Adding Martin gave the Blue Jays a logjam at catcher, where incumbent Dioner Navarro is signed through 2015 and Josh Thole is Dickey's knuckleball specialist. Martin has worked hard this spring to prove he can handle Dickey's floater, which could mean Thole is ticketed for Triple-A. Or, Toronto may yet trade the switch-hitting Navarro to open room at DH for Edwin Encarnacion, who has been slowed this spring by a balky back and may not be able to handle regular duty at first base. | | TAMPA BAY: ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - A year after being a trendy preseason pick to contend for the World Series, the Tampa Bay Rays are back in a familiar role as underdogs.
''That's good. ... We like that,'' three-time All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria said, noting the team has a history of flourishing most when little is expected from outside the organization.
''I just think it's going to be a really good year,'' the club's career home run and RBIs leader said. ''We've got a young team, a bunch of guys eager to learn and get out there and win games. I'm really looking forward to that.''
Former manager Joe Maddon - and his often unconventional way of doing things - is gone.
So is Andrew Friedman, the young executive who was architect of the teams that made the playoffs four of the past seven seasons.
The roster has a much different look, too, with 10 key players from a year ago either traded or released this winter.
''The end result is a club that we have optimism about, a club that we're excited about, that we think can compete for a playoff spot. And, that's what we want,'' team president of baseball operations Matt Silverman said.
''Every year, we want to come into camp believing our team can play meaningful games in September and have a chance to go to the playoffs, and even beyond,'' Silverman added. ''We have that - and at the same time, we've reloaded our minor league system, added some players who impact us this year, might impact us in the future, and we're better off because of that.''
Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, catcher Rene Rivera, outfielder Steven Souza Jr., and pitchers Kevin Jepsen, Ernesto Frieri and Burch Smith are offseason acquisitions who could figure in the team's success - or failure.
Smith and two other young starters - Matt Andriese and Nathan Karns - figure to begin the season in the rotation because of injuries to Alex Cobb, Drew Smyly, and Matt Moore.
The hope is the rest of the projected rotation, Chris Archer and Jake Odorizzi, can help the Rays stay afloat until they can get back to full strength.
''If you've got starting pitching, you've got a leg up on going into the season,'' rookie manager Kevin Cash said. ''We're very fortunate with the pitchers we have - starters and relievers.''
Cobb, sidelined by a forearm strain during spring training, believes the team will thrive as underdogs.
''We're not going to get bullied. A lot of people are picking us at the bottom, and we're going to embrace that and have each other's backs,'' the right-hander said.
''Any time anybody calls you out in your profession and makes you feel like you're not as good as you know you are, there's always something to prove,'' Cobb said. ''I don't feel like we need to have extra motivation. It's just going to be that much sweeter when we go out there and perform well.''
A look at the keys to the Rays' season:
WHO WILL LEAD?: Pitching and defense were staples during six consecutive winning seasons that produced four playoff berths and one trip to the World Series. The Rays slipped to 77-85 a year ago, their first losing record since 2007. They're banking on Cash, who has no previous managerial experience, being the right fit to restore winning ways. At 37, he's the youngest current manager or head coach in the four major professional sports.
BETTER LONGO: Longoria played in every game in 2014 for the first time in his career, however he hit a disappointing .253 with 22 homers and 91 RBIs. He's moving into the cleanup spot after batting third most of his career, and knows he has to be more consistent if the Rays - last in the AL in runs scored a year ago - are going to have a chance to be better offensively.
BEHIND THE PLATE: Catcher Ryan Hanigan was traded and backup Jose Molina was released this winter. The three-team deal that sent Wil Myers to San Diego and brought Souza to Tampa Bay from Washington, also landed Rivera from the Padres.
The Rays believe he's an upgrade defensively, as well as offensively.
Rivera posted career highs with a .252 batting average, 11 homers and 44 RBI's in 103 games last season. Still, the 31-year-old catcher stresses his job is to provide solid direction behind the plate.
''I want to help my pitching staff first. I think that's what the game is all about. If you pitch well, you're going to win some games,'' Rivera said. ''If I get a hit here, a hit there and help us win some games, that's even better.'' |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (TORONTO-TAMPA BAY) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Blue Jays-Rays Preview* ========================
By JORDAN GARRETSON STATS Writer
Toronto (9-8) at Tampa Bay (9-8), 1:10 p.m. EDT
The Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays' series has been free of confrontations to this point, but that could change when Chris Archer and Mark Buehrle take the mound 10 days after a heated exchange.
Archer looks to lead Tampa Bay to a fifth straight victory Sunday at Tropicana Field while Buehrle tries to move to 4-0 for the second straight year.
Archer (2-2, 1.07 ERA) shut down Toronto in a 4-2 road victory on April 16, striking out 11 while giving up two hits in seven scoreless innings. He got the Blue Jays' attention by hitting Russell Martin and Edwin Encarnacion, though he said both were accidents.
Toronto seemed to retaliate by hitting Evan Longoria in the eighth inning, and Buehrle and Archer shouted at each other from their dugouts afterward. Tampa Bay reliever Steve Geltz also hit Josh Donaldson.
Only one player has been hit by a pitch through two games in this series. A knuckleball got away from R.A. Dickey and struck Brandon Guyer in the Rays' 12-3 win Friday.
Archer said he doesn't anticipate any fireworks Sunday.
"I hope not," he told MLB's official website. "Because it seemed more like a misunderstanding than anything else."
The right-hander hasn't given up an earned run in his last three starts spanning 19 2-3 innings, though an unearned run cost him in Tuesday's 1-0 loss to Boston. He is 3-1 with a 2.98 ERA in 10 career starts versus Toronto, but was crushed in his last two home matchups in 2014, allowing 11 runs over 11 innings.
Buehrle (3-0, 4.00) can become the first Blue Jay to win his first four starts in two straight seasons and the first player since Jack McDowell of the Chicago White Sox from 1992-93. Buehrle also won each of his first four outings in 2002.
Despite that potential achievement, the left-hander hasn't been dominant, giving up eight runs and 23 hits through 18 innings. He allowed three runs - all on homers by Steven Souza Jr. and Mikie Mahtook - over six innings in Toronto's 12-7 home win a day before exchanging words with Archer, improving to 3-0 with a 2.89 ERA in seven matchups since the start of last season.
Buehrle has received 11 runs of support in each outing thus far, becoming the first pitcher to be backed by at least 33 runs in his first three starts since the Chicago Cubs' Jeff Pico had 34 runs of support in 1990.
Toronto (9-9), in danger of dropping three in a row for the first time after Saturday's 4-2 loss, might not be capable of another explosive offensive effort, however. Three of the Blue Jays' five runs in the series have come on solo homers, and Jose Bautista missed his fourth straight game due to a sore shoulder, though he could return Sunday. He's just 2 for 24 against Archer for an .083 average, his second-lowest versus any of the 28 pitchers against whom he has at least 20 at-bats.
Jose Reyes is 9 for 21 against Archer, but 2 for his last 21 overall.
Devon Travis was 2 for 4 Saturday to improve to 18 for 44 (.409) during a 12-game hitting streak.
Longoria was 4 for 4, doubling for the third straight game and moving to 8 for 16 in his last four after hitting .186 previously. Tampa Bay (10-8) is 10 for 32 (.313) with runners in scoring position during its winning streak.
"There are guys top to bottom in the lineup coming through with big hits," Longoria said. "Really just never giving up."
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| | Last Updated: 4/25/2024 3:31:24 AM EST. |
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