Game #81: HALF WAY! Toronto Rock (43-37) @ Boston Cannons (40-42)

 

Game 20! - Boston Red Sox (8-11) @ Toronto Blue Jays (12-7)

 

Thu, Apr 28 • 3:07 PM EDT

At SkyDome

Garrett Whitlock (1-0, 0.66 ERA, 18 SO) vs Alex Manoah (3-0, 2.00 ERA, 18 SO)

Game 40! woo! Sux @ Jays

#147 - Boston Almost-Eliminated Sox (76-70) at Toronto Spoiler Jays (57-89)

Smile, gentlemen... think of the golf tee time reservations you could soon make!

Thursday, September 12, 2019 | 7:07 pm ET

Rogers Centre | Toronto, Ontario

Jhoulys Chacin (opener, 3-10, 5.60, 1.52) vs. Clay Buchholz (1-4, 5.31, 1.32)

PREAMBLE:

After a scintillating pitching performance by the Blue Jays pitching staff in yesterday's 8-0 shellacking, the Jays look to sweep the Red Sox in today's finale of a three-game series.

Clay Buchholz faces his former team for the first time after spending ten years with the Red Sox, and hopefully he'll be inspired to take advantage of a demoralized squad.  He'll go up against Jhoulys Chacin, who will be making his second appearance as a Red Sox after being released by the Brewers.  Chacin is also making his first appearance against the Jays.

And, no, no relation between him and his cologne-spritzing namesake, Gustavo Chacin, though they're both from Venezuela.

#146 - Boston Dombrowskis (76-69) at Toronto Shapiros (56-89)

Wednesday, September 11, 2019 | 7:07 pm

Rogers Centre | Toronto, Ontario

Bobby Poyner (opener, 0-0, 10.50, 2.17) vs. Wilmer Font (opener, 1-2, 3.00, 1.19)

PREAMBLE:

Only 17 games left to get through this season, folks, then it's back to our favourite sport: speculating on next year's roster.  At least we're being entertained watching the Red Sox's season being slowly flushed into the toilet as Alex Cora has admitted they're basically out of it by now (9 games behind Oakland with 17 to go) so he's planning to rest his big stars one-by-one so they don't get worn down on the turf in Toronto -- who knew that having turf would turn out to be beneficial!  Bogaerts was rested last night, tonight is Mookie's turn and then tomorrow is Devers.

Tonight on the bump is an epic match-up of openers with Wilmer Font (Jays) and Bobby Poyner (Red Sox) getting things started off.  Poyner has faced the Jays twice, both last year, for a total of one inning with one run given up.

#98 - Toronto Blue Jays (36-61) at Boston Red Sox (52-44)

Thursday, July 18, 2019 | 1:05 pm

Fenway Park | Boston, Massholia

Thomas Pannone (2-3, 6.18, 1.50) vs. Chris Sale (3-9, 4.27, 1.10)

PREAMBLE:

After making things interesting once again in the late innings, the Blue Jays look to recover and pull out a split of the four-game series with a win today.  After this game, the Jays fly to Detroit to take on the Tigers.

In this afternoon's finale, Thomas Pannone has been brought in from Buffalo to save the day for the Jays.  He'll go up against Chris Sale, who has been struggling all season to rediscover his form and is 0-3, 4.79 at Fenway Park in nine starts this year.  The Blue Jays have scored 14 runs in 14.2 innings (three starts) against Sale in a bizarro 2019 - good against Sale and meh against just about everyone else.

#95 - Toronto Blue Jays (35-59) at Boston Red Sox (50-43)

Monday, July 15, 2019 | 7:10 pm

Fenway Park | East Massholia, MA

Trent Thornton (3-6, 4.85, 1.48) vs. Rick Porcello (6-7, 5.33, 1.42)

PREAMBLE:

After losing 2 out of 3 to the Yankees, the Blue Jays head a few hours up the coast to Boston (also known as East Massholia) for a four-game series.  With any luck, the Blue Jays can make a serious dent in the playoff hopes of the Red Sox by pounding the shit out of them in this series and leaving that middle finger above seared into the grass at Fenway Park.

Trent Thornton takes the ball tonight as he continues his reasonably impressive rookie season, all in the name of development.  He takes on that overbloated porcini mushroom, Rick Porcello, who has a career record of 10-12, 5.47 against the Jays.

#88 - Boston Red Sox (45-41) at Toronto Blue Jays (33-54)

Thursday, July 4, 2019 | 7:07 pm

Rogers Centre | Toronto, Ontario

Hector Velazquez (1-3, 5.31, 1.30) 

vs. 

Derek Law (0-1, 6.91, 1.68) and Thomas Pannone (2-3, 5.91, 1.54)

PREAMBLE:

Short and sweet tonight, folks.  The Blue Jays look to pull out a series win against the Red Sox in the finale of a three-game set tonight.

Marcus Stroman is not able to go tonight, so Derek Law will open the game for an inning or so then turn things over to Thomas Pannone for (hopefully) the bulk of the innings the rest of the way.  The Red Sox will counter with Hector Velazquez, who is 3-0, 1.15 in 11 relief appearances for his career against the Jays, though he's just 3-6, 5.04 in 18 career starts overall (including 7 this season).

#87 - Boston Red Sox (45-40) at Toronto Blue Jays (32-54)

from Blue Jays Fans on Twitter.  That looks a lot like Charlie, no?

Wednesday, July 3, 2019 | 7:07 pm

Rogers Centre | Toronto, Ontario

Chris Sale (3-7, 3.82, 1.03) vs. Jacob Waguespack (0-0, 4.50, 1.00)

PREAMBLE:

After a rough start by Trent Thornton that the offence couldn't come back from in last night's opener, the Blue Jays hope to get another solid appearance from a call-up in today's game to get back on the right track.

Jacob Waguespack is being reinstated from the injury list to start for the Jays after Sean Reid-Foley was forced into action in yesterday's game.  He'll face Chris Sale, who is having a rough year, both overall and against the Jays (0-1, 8.00 in 2 starts this year), but has usually done well against in the Jays in his career, 7-4, 2.81 in 17 appearances (14 starts).

Breaking news:  Perhaps it's not Waguespack tonight, after all... the Jays released a lineup that shows David Phelps starting tonight.  Maybe they're saving Wags for tomorrow in case Stroman can't go, or Phelps is being used as an opener for Wags.  *shrugs shoulders*

#86 - Boston Red Sox (44-40) at Toronto Blue Jays (32-53)

Tuesday, July 2, 2019 | 7:07 pm

Rogers Centre | Toronto, Ontario

David Price (5-2, 3.36, 1.12) vs. Trent Thornton (2-5, 4.60, 1.45)

PREAMBLE:

The Blue Jays look to carry on the momentum after winning 3 of 4 against the Royals, and hope to catch the Red Sox in a tired state after the Sox flew back to North America after taking a royal pounding from the Yankees (29 runs given up in two games).  Tired + a shredded bullpen = a no-hitter for the Sox tonight, sounds about right, no?

Trent Thornton takes the ball for the Jays and he'll face a guy who has absolutely owned the Blue Jays throughout his career - David Price, he of the 22-3, 2.37 career numbers vs. the Jays.  Well, at least he provides nice bathrobes.

#78 - Toronto Blue Jays (28-49) at Boston Red Sox (42-36)

Just because

Sunday, June 23, 2019 | 1:05 pm

TearItDown Park | East Massholia, MA

Marcus Stroman (4-9, 3.23, 1.27) vs. Rick Porcini Mushroom (5-6, 4.31, 1.30)

PREAMBLE:

The Blue Jays and the Red Sux have split the first two games of this series, each pulling out a comeback win.  Both sides are claiming "we should be going for the series sweep this afternoon."

In the finale, Marcus Stroman takes the ball as he continues to burnish his resume for an All-Star selection and as the top pitching trade bait for the next month-plus.  He'll take a career 5-3, 3.70 mark against the Sox as he faces the Porcini Mushroom, who is 10-11, 5.39 in 25 career starts against the Jays.

#77 - Toronto Blue Jays (27-49) at Boston Red Sox (42-35)

Because of the two triples in last night's game that wouldn't have happened anywhere else.

Saturday, June 22, 2019 | 4:05 pm

The Park That Wouldn't Pass Muster If Built Today | East Massholia, MA

Derek Law (0-1, 5.16, 1.59) and Sam Gaviglio (4-1, 4.47, 1.05) 

vs. 

Brian Johnson (1-1, 10.00, 2.67)

PREAMBLE:

Well, that was a real ball-breaker last night.  Two triples that wouldn't have happened pretty much anywhere else conspired to ruin Trent Thornton's excellent outing.  This afternoon, the Blue Jays look to get a lead again and actually hold it this time without any ballpark shenanigans.

Today, we've got an opener, Derek Law, and he'll be followed by Sam Gaviglio in what will be a bullpen day.  They'll take on Brian Johnson, who was beaten up a little by the Jays last year in going 1-1, 8.49 ERA in four appearances (2 starts).  Gaviglio has been respectful enough against the Red Sox in his career, going 1-2, 4.79 in seven appearances (3 starts).

#76 - Toronto Blue Jays (27-48) at Boston Red Sux (41-35)

Friday, June 21, 2019 | 7:10 pm

Fenway Park | East Massholia, MA

PREAMBLE:

The Blue Jays, relieved to get the gorilla off their backs, head to Fenway Park for a three-game series against the Red Sux.  Certainly made for a more enjoyable flight to Boston.

Trent Thornton looks to continue a series of solid starts, including his best one of the season last time out against the Astros.  He'll face off against Chris Sale, who is having an off season by his standards.  Sale is a career 0-2, 9.00 against the Jays in Fenway Park, though he's been very good his whole career against the Jays in stadiums not named Fenway.

Vlad's first time playing at Fenway.  Time to rattle the Monster, Vladito.

#50 - East Massholia Red Sux (26-23) at Toronto Blue Jays (20-29)

Thursday, May 23, 2019 | 12:37 pm

Rogers Centre | Toronto, ON

Ryan Weber (0-0, 1.13, 1.13) vs. Clayton Richard (first appearance of the season)

PREAMBLE:

Well, damn.  A very winnable game got away from the Blue Jays last night as they went down in 13 innings.  In today's finale, the Blue Jays look to come up with a series split against the Red Sox.

In what looks to be a battle of bullpens for today's matinee, Clayton Richard will come off the DL and take the ball for the Jays.  How long he can go remains to be seen - Charlie Montoyo suggested that he might go 50 or 60 pitches.  The Red Sox counter with Ryan Weber as their opener who, similarly, isn't expected to go beyond three or four innings at the most.

#49 - Boston Red Sox (25-23) at Toronto Blue Jays (20-28)

Wednesday, May 22, 2019 | 7:07 pm

Rogers Centre | Toronto, Ontario

Rick Porcello (3-4, 4.80, 1.40) vs. Aaron Sanchez (3-4, 3.88, 1.51)

PREAMBLE:

The Blue Jays and the Red Sox have taken turns winning in routs after The Rowdy Show took over in game two of a four-game series between these two.  Tonight, the Jays look to keep crushing the ball in an attempt to take attention away from Victoria Day-gate and keep it on the ball field.

Aaron Sanchez takes the ball tonight as he looks to keep his fingernails from going *splooge* all over the place.  He'll face off against Rick Porcello.

#48 - Boston Red Sox (25-22) at Toronto Blue Jays (19-28)

Tuesday, May 21, 2019 | 7:07 pm

Rogers Centre | Toronto, Ontario

Eduardo Rodriguez (4-2, 4.89, 1.42) vs. Marcus Stroman (1-6, 2.95, 1.29)

PREAMBLE:

Much controversy came before the start of yesterday's series opener as Vlad Guerrero Jr. wasn't inserted into the lineup for a nationally-televised holiday game, which was won in a rout by the Red Sox.  The Blue Jays look to take advantage of most of the attention being placed on the Raptors tonight and come up with a better performance in the second of a four-game series. 

Marcus Stroman takes the ball for the Jays against Eduardo Rodriguez -- just look at their records, it would (on paper) make more sense for Stroman to be the 4-2 pitcher and Rodriguez the 1-6 pitcher.  Just shows you the true worth of wins in today's baseball.

#47 - Boston Red Sux (24-22) at Toronto Blue Jays (19-27)

Monday, May 20, 2019 | 1:07 pm

Rogers Centre | Toronto, ON

PREAMBLE

The Toronto Blue Jays return home after salvaging a split in a four-game series against the White Sox in Chicago.  Today, they start a four-game set against the Boston Red Sox with the expected howls of outrage from East Massholia over having to fly into Toronto for an early ballgame (hey Red Sox fans?  Shut up).

David Price returns from the injury list to slowly pull out fingernails from Jays fans once again as he looks to build upon his career 21-3, 2.43 ERA record in 29 starts against the Jays.  Edwin Jackson makes his second start as a Blue Jay.