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TORONTO ( ESTRADA )
WASHINGTON ( SCHERZER ) |
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| 979 | TORONTO | +190 | Ov 7,-105 | +175 | Ov 7,+105 | | 980 | WASHINGTON | -210 | Un 7,-115 | -185 | Un 7,-125 |
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| All Games | 23-29 | -8.2 | 26-24 | 5.2 | 0.261 | 0.327 | 0.436 | 0.763 | 4.7 | 0.256 | 0.320 | 0.427 | 0.747 | | Road Games | 9-17 | -7.1 | 16-9 | 5.0 | 0.248 | 0.309 | 0.402 | 0.712 | 5.4 | 0.280 | 0.343 | 0.477 | 0.821 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 15-24 | -10.5 | 19-18 | 5.0 | 0.254 | 0.324 | 0.422 | 0.746 | 4.6 | 0.253 | 0.320 | 0.417 | 0.737 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | +0.4 | 4-3 | 5.7 | 0.308 | 0.364 | 0.518 | 0.883 | 4.1 | 0.271 | 0.295 | 0.394 | 0.689 | | Grass Games | 9-14 | -4 | 15-7 | 5.3 | 0.258 | 0.322 | 0.416 | 0.738 | 5.2 | 0.271 | 0.337 | 0.467 | 0.804 | | Night Games | 15-20 | -6.4 | 18-16 | 4.9 | 0.248 | 0.310 | 0.428 | 0.737 | 4.7 | 0.250 | 0.317 | 0.420 | 0.737 | | Interleague | 1-2 | -2.2 | 2-1 | 5.0 | 0.287 | 0.351 | 0.554 | 0.906 | 6.0 | 0.271 | 0.355 | 0.458 | 0.813 |
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| All Games | 5.2 | 0.261 | 0.327 | 52 | 1745 | 456 | 110 | 6 | 61 | 0.436 | 252 | 170 | 389 | 27 | 325 | 50 | 29 | 44 | 21 | | Road Games | 5.0 | 0.248 | 0.309 | 26 | 882 | 219 | 52 | 3 | 26 | 0.402 | 116 | 78 | 224 | 13 | 156 | 24 | 15 | 21 | 7 | | Righty Starters | 5.0 | 0.254 | 0.324 | 39 | 1309 | 332 | 82 | 3 | 44 | 0.422 | 179 | 136 | 298 | 22 | 259 | 34 | 24 | 35 | 20 |
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| All Games | 3.87 | 1.204 | 148.7 | 71 | 64 | 128 | 17 | 51 | 150 | 6-11 | 6 | 8 | 42.9% | | Road Games | 4.91 | 1.282 | 73.3 | 44 | 40 | 64 | 10 | 30 | 76 | 3-8 | 3 | 5 | 37.5% |
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| All Games | 28-22 | +0.8 | 29-20 | 4.6 | 0.254 | 0.322 | 0.412 | 0.734 | 4.2 | 0.265 | 0.314 | 0.385 | 0.700 | | Home Games | 14-7 | +4.2 | 12-9 | 4.1 | 0.252 | 0.319 | 0.427 | 0.746 | 3.5 | 0.237 | 0.284 | 0.327 | 0.612 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 20-19 | -3.6 | 22-16 | 4.4 | 0.253 | 0.322 | 0.404 | 0.725 | 4.5 | 0.269 | 0.320 | 0.393 | 0.713 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -1.5 | 2-5 | 2.9 | 0.230 | 0.301 | 0.385 | 0.686 | 3.7 | 0.268 | 0.318 | 0.439 | 0.757 | | Grass Games | 28-22 | +0.8 | 29-20 | 4.6 | 0.254 | 0.322 | 0.412 | 0.734 | 4.2 | 0.265 | 0.314 | 0.385 | 0.700 | | Night Games | 17-12 | +2.6 | 15-14 | 4.9 | 0.268 | 0.334 | 0.425 | 0.760 | 3.8 | 0.262 | 0.312 | 0.377 | 0.689 | | Interleague | 3-2 | +1.1 | 4-1 | 6.4 | 0.241 | 0.325 | 0.488 | 0.813 | 6.0 | 0.257 | 0.312 | 0.383 | 0.695 |
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| All Games | 4.6 | 0.254 | 0.322 | 50 | 1678 | 426 | 86 | 7 | 55 | 0.412 | 221 | 168 | 401 | 12 | 338 | 40 | 36 | 43 | 22 | | Home Games | 4.1 | 0.252 | 0.319 | 21 | 682 | 172 | 36 | 1 | 27 | 0.427 | 86 | 67 | 168 | 2 | 136 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 8 | | Righty Starters | 4.4 | 0.253 | 0.322 | 39 | 1308 | 331 | 67 | 5 | 40 | 0.404 | 169 | 132 | 311 | 11 | 267 | 35 | 24 | 35 | 20 |
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| All Games | 3.58 | 1.281 | 150.7 | 66 | 60 | 143 | 12 | 50 | 140 | 8-8 | 18 | 8 | 69.2% | | Home Games | 2.33 | 1.121 | 58 | 15 | 15 | 50 | 2 | 15 | 60 | 5-1 | 9 | 2 | 81.8% |
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| 5/19/2015 | SANCHEZ(R) | LA ANGELS | SANTIAGO(L) | 2-3 | L | -120 | 9.5 ov | U | 4 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 1 | | 5/20/2015 | HUTCHISON(R) | LA ANGELS | WEAVER(R) | 3-4 | L | -125 | 9 un | U | 5 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 | | 5/21/2015 | DICKEY(R) | LA ANGELS | SHOEMAKER(R) | 8-4 | W | +100 | 8.5 ov | O | 10 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | | 5/22/2015 | ESTRADA(R) | SEATTLE | HERNANDEZ(R) | 3-4 | L | +140 | 8 ev | U | 7 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 0 | | 5/23/2015 | BUEHRLE(L) | SEATTLE | PAXTON(L) | 2-3 | L | -140 | 8.5 un | U | 4 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | | 5/24/2015 | SANCHEZ(R) | SEATTLE | WALKER(R) | 8-2 | W | -105 | 9 ov | O | 10 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 0 | | 5/25/2015 | HUTCHISON(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | NOESI(R) | 6-0 | W | -155 | 8.5 ev | U | 7 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | | 5/26/2015 | DICKEY(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | DANKS(L) | 10-9 | W | -155 | 9 ov | O | 13 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 9 | 1 | | 5/27/2015 | ESTRADA(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | SAMARDZIJA(R) | 3-5 | L | -125 | 9 un | U | 13 | 12 | 1 | 14 | 9 | 0 | | 5/29/2015 | BUEHRLE(L) | @ MINNESOTA | MAY(R) | 6-4 | W | 105 | 8.5 ev | O | 11 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | | 5/30/2015 | SANCHEZ(R) | @ MINNESOTA | GIBSON(R) | 2-3 | L | -110 | 8.5 un | U | 9 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 2 | | 5/31/2015 | HUTCHISON(R) | @ MINNESOTA | NOLASCO(R) | 5-6 | L | -125 | 8 un | O | 13 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 2 | | 6/2/2015 | DICKEY(R) | @ WASHINGTON | ZIMMERMANN(R) | | | 6/2/2015 | ESTRADA(R) | @ WASHINGTON | SCHERZER(R) | | | 6/3/2015 | BUEHRLE(L) | @ WASHINGTON | STRASBURG(R) | | | 6/5/2015 | SANCHEZ(R) | HOUSTON | HERNANDEZ(R) | | | 6/6/2015 | HUTCHISON(R) | HOUSTON | OBERHOLTZER(L) | | | 6/7/2015 | DICKEY(R) | HOUSTON | MCHUGH(R) | | | 6/8/2015 | | MIAMI | | | | 6/9/2015 | | MIAMI | | |
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| 5/19/2015 | GONZALEZ(L) | NY YANKEES | EOVALDI(R) | 8-6 | W | -130 | 7.5 un | O | 10 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 0 | | 5/20/2015 | ZIMMERMANN(R) | NY YANKEES | WARREN(R) | 3-2 | W | -155 | 7 ov | U | 5 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 1 | | 5/22/2015 | SCHERZER(R) | PHILADELPHIA | O'SULLIVAN(R) | 2-1 | W | -270 | 7 ov | U | 6 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | | 5/23/2015 | STRASBURG(R) | PHILADELPHIA | HAMELS(L) | 1-8 | L | -135 | 6.5 un | O | 5 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 5 | 0 | | 5/24/2015 | GONZALEZ(L) | PHILADELPHIA | HARANG(R) | 4-1 | W | -170 | 7 un | U | 10 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 0 | | 5/25/2015 | ROARK(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | WADA(L) | 2-1 | W | 105 | 11 un | U | 5 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | | 5/26/2015 | ZIMMERMANN(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | HENDRICKS(R) | 2-3 | L | 100 | 10 ev | U | 6 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 0 | | 5/27/2015 | SCHERZER(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | LESTER(L) | 3-0 | W | -125 | 6.5 ov | U | 9 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 3 | | 5/29/2015 | STRASBURG(R) | @ CINCINNATI | DESCLAFANI(R) | 2-5 | L | -120 | 7.5 un | U | 10 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 0 | | 5/30/2015 | GONZALEZ(L) | @ CINCINNATI | IGLESIAS(R) | 5-8 | L | 100 | 7.5 un | O | 10 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 0 | | 5/31/2015 | ROARK(R) | @ CINCINNATI | LORENZEN(R) | 2-8 | L | -130 | 8 un | O | 2 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 0 | | 6/2/2015 | ZIMMERMANN(R) | TORONTO | DICKEY(R) | | | 6/2/2015 | SCHERZER(R) | TORONTO | ESTRADA(R) | | | 6/3/2015 | STRASBURG(R) | TORONTO | BUEHRLE(L) | | | 6/4/2015 | GONZALEZ(L) | CHICAGO CUBS | ARRIETA(R) | | | 6/5/2015 | ROARK(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | WADA(L) | | | 6/6/2015 | ZIMMERMANN(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | HAMMEL(R) | | | 6/7/2015 | SCHERZER(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | HENDRICKS(R) | | | 6/9/2015 | | @ NY YANKEES | | |
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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. | | WASHINGTON: WASHINGTON (AP) - Bryce Harper's reaction to the news that the Washington Nationals added Max Scherzer to an already-talented starting staff drew quite a lot of attention.
''I just started laughing,'' Harper famously said. ''I was like, `Where's my ring?'''
Yes, that pretty much sums up where the expectations are for the 2015 Nationals - as expressed by them and by others.
On the first day of full-squad workouts at spring training, reigning NL Manager of the Year Matt Williams posted these words of wisdom in the clubhouse: ''The road to the World Series begins today.''
''We're here to get to that ultimate goal,'' Williams said. ''We're not alone. There's 29 other teams that have the same thought. So that being said, I want to make sure that we understand that that's our goal. That is our goal: to be the last one standing at the end of it.''
The main reason many folks think the Nationals are capable of achieving that goal, even if the team has yet to win a playoff series, is the rotation.
Scherzer, the 2013 AL Cy Young Award winner with Detroit, came aboard with a $210 million contract, joining a group that led the majors in ERA last season - right-handers Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister, and lefty Gio Gonzalez.
''There's no break'' for an opposing team, new reliever Casey Janssen observed.
It's such a formidable quintet that a guy who won 15 games, had a sub-3.00 ERA and threw nearly 200 innings a year ago, Tanner Roark, is moving to the bullpen.
In 2014, the Nationals won a league-best 96 games and finished atop the underwhelming NL East by a whopping 17 games, but then bowed out in four games in a Division Series against the eventual champs, the San Francisco Giants. Washington's starting pitching wasn't the problem in the postseason; its bullpen and hitting were what led to a second quick playoff exit in three years.
And yet general manager Mike Rizzo allowed those two areas to lose important pieces, trading away the man he called ''maybe the best eighth-inning setup man in the history of the game,'' Tyler Clippard, and letting first baseman Adam LaRoche (team highs of 26 homers, 92 RBIs) leave via free agency.
The hope, presumably, is that hitters such as Harper, Ryan Zimmerman (who replaces LaRoche at first) and Wilson Ramos, who each missed significant chunks of last season, will deliver the numbers they're capable of producing, while opponents have a really hard time scoring much against all the aces Williams will send to the mound.
''It's hilarious having to go in there and face them. It's absolutely stupid,'' Harper said. ''We have the best staff in baseball. I don't care what anybody says.''
Actually, Bryce, that's exactly what pretty much everybody IS saying.
Here are other things to know about the Nationals, who open the season on April 6 at home against the New York Mets:
HEALTH MATTERS: Half of the everyday lineup - outfielders Jayson Werth and Denard Span (both recovering from offseason surgery), third baseman Anthony Rendon and new second baseman Yunel Escobar - missed extended periods of spring training, as did fourth outfielder Nate McClouth. Rendon, Span, Werth and McClouth might all miss opening day. ''You can be as good as you want on paper, but that doesn't mean anything until the end of the year,'' Scherzer said. ''We've got to stay healthy.''
MIGHTY `PEN?: Given their aspirations, October is what really matters for the Nationals, and Drew Storen blew save chances in the 2012 and 2014 playoffs. Still, the closer's job is his entering the season, and Clippard is no longer around to shut down foes in the eighth - or provide ninth-inning backup if needed. Worth watching: Will Aaron Barrett set aside the yips that hit him in the NLDS?
LAST HURRAH: A couple of homegrown franchise cornerstones, Zimmermann and shortstop Ian Desmond, can become free agents after the season, as can Span and Fister. Rizzo could try to sign one or more to long-term deals. He could trade one or more. Or he could decide to let things play out with this group, then move on next offseason. ''With this group of guys,'' Werth said, ''this might be it.'' |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (TORONTO-WASHINGTON) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Blue Jays-Nationals Preview* =============================
Toronto (23-29) at Washington (28-22), 7:05 p.m. EDT
Jordan Zimmermann has been the Washington Nationals' most consistent pitcher behind Max Scherzer, giving his club a chance to win virtually every time out.
Washington's bullpen has not had the same success.
Following Monday's rainout, Zimmermann and Scherzer will pitch in Tuesday's day-night doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Nationals (28-22) have dropped four of five and were swept in three games by Cincinnati over the weekend. Relievers gave up six runs in two innings in Sunday's 8-2 loss and allowed 14 over 11 2-3 in the series. The bullpen came in with a 2.98 ERA, the seventh-lowest in baseball.
Washington relievers have recorded 27 1-3 innings over the last eight games.
"They've been pushed with the short starts and the spot start. They've been pushed a lot on this road trip," manager Matt Williams said.
Bryce Harper returned to the lineup after he was scratched Saturday due to a sore back, going 0 for 2 with two walks. He hit .360 with 13 homers and 28 RBIs in May and was 7 for 13 in his only three games against Toronto in 2012.
Zimmermann (4-2, 3.26 ERA) has logged eight consecutive quality starts and is 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA in his last three. Washington lost for the first time in six starts by the right-hander last Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs, though he allowed one run over seven innings in the 3-2 defeat. In the six starts in which Zimmermann hasn't recorded a victory, he's received 12 runs of support.
Zimmermann, looking for a 16th straight quality start at Nationals Park, is 6-0 with a 1.95 ERA in nine interleague outings there, winning each of the last four. In his only matchup with Toronto in 2009, he yielded a run over 5 2-3 innings.
Scherzer (6-3, 1.51) has dominated the Blue Jays with a 1.68 ERA and 4-0 record in seven meetings. The right-hander has allowed two runs over his last four overall outings for a 0.62 ERA, tying the best four-start run of his career.
The Blue Jays (23-29) have dropped three of four, though Josh Donaldson enters the series on a tear. The third baseman is 11 for 25 with six homers, two doubles, 11 RBIs and 11 runs over his last six games.
"He's got that knack, and that's why he's an elite player," manager John Gibbons said. "And that's not easy to do consistently like he's doing. Thank God we've got him."
Toronto has lost 15 of 20 on the road with starters posting a 6.17 ERA. The Nationals have won eight of nine at home.
R.A. Dickey (2-5, 5.77) takes the hill in the opener after posting a 7.92 ERA over his last four games while surrendering seven homers in 25 innings.
Dickey, who is 0-3 with a 7.43 ERA in four road starts, has gone 4-6 with a 3.73 ERA in 15 games against the Nationals, though he hasn't faced them since September 2012.
Marco Estrada (1-3, 3.89) starts the nightcap for Toronto, which has lost each of his five starts with the right-hander posting a 5.02 ERA.
Estrada is 1-1 with a 4.96 ERA in three starts against Washington, allowing two runs in 6 1-3 innings of a 9-2 win with Milwaukee on June 25.
Jose Reyes, who is 10 for 29 in six games since returning from a cracked rib, is 8 for 22 off Zimmermann.
Toronto leads the series 33-28, though Washington has won six of the last seven meetings while limiting the Blue Jays to three runs or fewer in each victory.
Jose Bautista is 9 for 17 with a homer and four doubles against Scherzer, and he'll play in the outfield for the first time since straining his shoulder April 21.
"He's ready to go," Gibbons said. "It'll be good to see him back out there."
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| | Last Updated: 4/26/2024 6:50:01 AM EST. |
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