Game #71 Preview: Orioles @ Blue Jays

The rubber match of the series goes this afternoon at the Rogers Centre with Scott Copeland taking to the mound against Chris TIllman. The Blue Jays have faced Tillman about a million times (17 to be exact) and they always seems to hit him hard. It's easy to see why, with the righty throwing a large number of fastballs around the zone and the Jays being a squad that loves to hit fastballs around the zone. Tillman has already faced Toronto three times this year in fact, allowing 19 earned runs over just 13.2 innings including four home runs. If I was an Orioles fan, I wouldn't feel too confident heading into today's game with the only solace being that Scott Copeland is also starting and may run out of pixie dust soon.

Tillman's pitch usage has been the usual this season despite currently sitting at an ERA of 5.58 thanks a bad walk rate (11.6%) that's a fair bit higher than his career average (8.6%). Against righties, he throws a fastball, sinker, and cutter along with occasionally a curveball or changeup, while lefties see pretty much just a fastball with the curve and change as well. He used to survive, and oftentimes thrive, off his fastball but his other pitches haven't been good enough this year to keep hitters guessing.

Tillman is pretty split-neutral, although teams have been throwing more lefties up against him than righties this year. Against opposite-handed hitters he keeps everything away, while the right-handed hitters get fastballs up in the zone as mentioned early:

Hopeful Lineup

1. Jose Reyes SS
2. Josh Donaldson 3B
3. Jose Bautista RF
4. Edwin Encarnacion DH
5. Chris Colabello LF
6. Russell Martin C
7. Justin Smoak 1B
8. Kevin Pillar CF
9. Ryan Goins 2B

Bullpen Usage

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