Game #126 Preview: Blue Jays @ Rangers

Game previews return just in time for the stretch run as the calendar turns to September...no not the Blue Jays stretch run, who cares about that. I'm talking about the "Find the Link" stretch run that erik.t is currently leading with just over a month remaining in the season. As I wipe my jet-lagged eyes, the pitching matchup becomes clearer on my computer screen and it's a dandy. David Price makes his fifth start as a Blue Jay as he opposes Colby Lewis who goes for Texas. Lewis has been his regular self this year, that is to say remarkably average despite his misleading (and useless) 14-5 record. He sports a 4.10 FIP thanks to rarely walking anyone, although his K-numbers don't strike much fear into anyone.

He mainly throws a high-80's fastball along with a slider and a curveball, although against righties he essentially sticks to the fastball and slider which could be an issue for the Rangers starter, facing a Jays lineup who feasts on predictable pitchers. The thing that's especially strange about Lewis is that's he actually become primarily a slider-first pitcher in the last two months or so, throwing the pitch almost half the time. There's very few pitchers in the entire league that throw a so-called "secondary" pitch 50% of the time:

With the way the Blue Jays look at the plate most of the time, there isn't much to suggest that Lewis will have success against them tonight. Prepare for more DINGERZ.

David Price (who turns 30 today) on the other hand last pitched in Arlington in 2013 for the Tampa Bay Rays, starting Game 163 to decide which team would get the final playoff spot and a matchup against Cleveland in the Wild Card game. Price, as you'll recall, pitched a complete game allowing just two runs which eventually paved the way to a ALDS berth against the Red Sox which the Rays lost as Boston went on to win it all (BOO HISS),

Hopeful Lineup

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

Bullpen Usage

Find The Link

Decided to make the first FTL in a while a tough one:

Find the link between Colby Lewis and this little guy.

Enjoy the game tonight, it should be a great one to watch.