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Yay, the very versatile utility guy Mike McCoy is back! He was pulled mid-game in Salt Lake City late last night (a city he didn't visit last year!) and caught a flight to Toronto to re-join the Toronto Blue Jays. Clint (@StivBators) was watching MiLB.tv last night when he saw McCoy being taken out of a game, so he actually foresaw and tweeted about this possible move before anyone else.
Unfortunately I have been out of the office for most of the day and am off to the ballgame now so I don't have an extensive intro to this game. But quickly: tonight Ricky Romero is looking to bounce back from a (shudder) 7-walk start to help the Blue Jays win their second game in a row. Trying to stop them will be the Orioles' Jake Arrieta. Last time out against the Red Sox, Arrieta had a rough outing too, giving up 3 walks but on 8 hits, resulting in 4 runs, through 5.2 innings. He has not pitched very effectively overall, but he has had some great starts, like an 8-inning 5-hit no-run effort against the Yankees earlier in May.
The Orioles made a couple of roster moves too, optioning last night's starter Tommy Hunter as well as Xavier Avery (he who sucks according to Rogers Centre fans). Endy Chavez has been activated from the disabled list and Miguel Gonzalez has been added to the roster from AAA Norfolk. Gonzalez was used primarily as a reliver in Norfolk and will be making his Major League debut as a 28-year old (his birthday was last Sunday) if he makes it into a game.
Lineups, ground rules, and a Did You Know? after the jump...
Lineups
Orioles: Andino-2B, Hardy-SS, Markakis-RF, Jones-CF, Wieters-C, Reynolds-1B, Davis-DH, Betemit-LF, Tolleson-2B
Blue Jays: Johnson-2B, Escobar-SS, Bautista-RF, Edwin-DH, Rasmus-CF, Arencibia-C, Lawrie-3B, Cooper-1B, Davis-LF
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4. Can't use the word swag or that's what she said. If used it will result in a punch of Sal Fasano's choice (h/t Kevin Gray).
Did you know? Alan Ashby had a -.251 WPA in the Blue Jays' first ever game against the Baltimore Orioles? The Jays ended up losing 5-3.