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| J.R. Richard - one of the great what-ifs |
Sunday, September 1, 2019 | 1:07 pm ET
Rogers Centre | Toronto, Ontario
Justin Verlander (16-5, 2.69, 0.80) vs. Wilmer Font (opener, 1-1, 2.70, 1.07 as a Jay)
PREAMBLE:
The Blue Jays look to secure a series win in the finale of a three-game series against the Houston Astros. Cavan Biggio homered in each of the first two games with his father, Craig, watching stoically in the stands (hey, he works for the Astros). Can he make it three straight and help the Jays take the series?
Wilmer Font will get the ball to open the game and then turn things over to either Zack Godley (4-5, 6.17 ERA) or Sam Gaviglio (4-2, 4.66 ERA); both are likely to pitch today. Justin Verlander is on the bump for the Astros - he's having a potential Cy Young season, but he's gone 0-4, 6.07 in five starts against the Jays dating back to 2013. Even with a no-hitter against the Jays, Verlander is a career 3-6, 4.73 in 13 starts against the Jays.
NOTES:
Ryan Tepera has been reinstated from the 60-day IL. Neil Ramirez has been DFAed to make room on the 40-man roster. It may be September when rosters can expand, but they still have to adhere to a 40-man limit.
We finally have an answer as to the two PTBNLs for the Eric Sogard trade:
OFFICIAL: We've acquired RHP Curtis Taylor 🇨🇦 and RHP Edisson Gonzalez from @RaysBaseball to complete the trade of INF Eric Sogard. pic.twitter.com/dT50cGB6Mu— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) September 1, 2019
Today's discussion about Tony Conigliaro in the recap threat and the posting of J.R. Richard's pic at the top has inspired me consider doing "what-if" threads during the off-season. Feel free to nominate other guys beside Tony C and Richard.
LINEUPS:
This is your "let's bag a series win and beat up JV" game threat.
