Game #20 Preview: Blue Jays @ Red Sox

The 9-10 Blue Jays venture to Fenway for the first time this season to take on the Red Sox who have the opposite record of Toronto at 10-9 with a strange start time of 6:10 PM. Both teams are coming off rough weekend series' with Boston losing 18-7 to the Orioles yesterday which would have happened to the Blue Jays as well if their turf wasn't so darn slow. These should be some fun games to watch with both teams running out starting pitchers surrounded by question marks and offences capable of putting up huge run totals.

The matchup today sees Aaron Sanchez trying to find the strike zone in Massachusetts against Joe Kelly who had two strong starts to begin the season and then a clunker last time out against Tampa. In his fourth start this season against Toronto he will have faced each of the Red Sox AL East rivals, which should make him aware he's no longer in the NL Central anymore. Of course, Kelly was traded at the deadline last season from the Cardinals along with Allen Craig for John Lackey. Kelly hasn't done a whole lot in his career to prove he's anything more than a back end of the rotation starter who should produce a FIP of around 4.00 and a lot of ground balls.

The likeable righty from Anaheim throws the four main pitches although his fastball is usually of the hard sinker variety which is the cause of all the groundballs. He flashes a solid curveball and an okay changeup against lefties coupled with his hard stuff which comes in around 96mph, so he's obviously no junk baller.

Since all the Blue Jays switch hitters will be (correctly) hitting left-handed (except Jose Reyes) we'll take a look at what they should expect. As you could predict, Kelly nibbles on the outer half with his sinker only resorting to his curveball and changeup when he's falling behind in the count. It's hard to make contact against that sinker and he's rarely tagged for a home run when he's locating well which could spell trouble for the Jays.

Hopeful Lineup

1. Devon Travis 2B
2. Josh Donaldson 3B
3. Jose Bautista RF
4. Edwin Encarnacion DH
5. Russell Martin C
6. Justin Smoak 1B
7. Michael Saunders LF
8. Dalton Pompey CF
9. Ryan Goins SS

Bullpen Usage

Not the freshest bullpen today, although the long guys like Francis and Hendriks should be able to cover for Sanchez if necessary. In a close game, Brett Cecil and Roberto Osuna will have to shoulder the load.

Boston Red Sox

Yesterday: Anthony Varvaro (1.2 IP, 28 pitches), Robbie Ross (1.0 IP 15 pitches), Heath Hembree (1.1 49 pitches), Craig Breslow (0.2 IP, 19 pitches), Edward Mujica (1.0 IP, 17 pitches)

Two Days Ago: Matt Barnes (2.0 IP, 27 pitches), Koji Uehara (0.1 IP ,14 pitches)

Find The Link

Find the link between Joe Kelly and the Dodgers backup left fielder with a 10/10 first name.

Enjoy the first but not even close to the last game against the Red Sox tonight. Sorry there hasn't been a preview in a while, final exams and a horrible flu knocked me out of commission for a little bit.