Game #82 Preview: Boyd vs Gaviglio

After a 3-2 pitcher’s duel win yesterday, the Blue Jays get back at it this afternoon against the Tigers. First pitch is very soon, at 1:07 ET.

Blue Jays’ Starter

Sam Gaviglio makes the start for the Blue Jays. He has acclimated nicely to the rotation since joining it on May 19, going 1-2 with a 4.19 ERA. Not great numbers, but certainly good enough for a backend starter. His goal now is to start pitching deeper into games again, as he has gone 3 straight starts without finishing 5 innings. He has been pitching alright in those, especially his last two, but hasn’t been getting good results.

In his last 2 starts, Gaviglio has totaled just 8.2 innings, but has 11 strikeouts vs 2 walks, and just 1 home run. But he also gave up 11 hits, which coupled with some poor defense and relief work behind him, has led to 6 runs (5 earned) and 2 abbreviated outings. He hasn’t thrown more than 80 pitches for 3 starts now, getting pulled at the first sign of trouble.

Tigers’ Starter

As we all know, Matt Boyd went over to Detroit along with Vaniel Norris at the 2015 trade deadline for 3 months of David Price. We all thought Norris would be the painful one to lose, as Boyd was a lot further down the depth chart and didn’t have the high ceiling that Norris did.

But Boyd is putting together a nice season (although not nearly as nice as he was when we saw him a month ago). Through 15 starts, Boyd is 4-6 with a 4.15 ERA, fitting nicely with his 4.10 FIP. But a month ago those numbers were a 3.00 ERA and a 3.46 FIP. June hasn’t been nice to him.

It all started with his start against the Blue Jays. He went 7 innings, the 3rd time this season he completed 7. But the Jays touched him up a little bit for 4 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks, only striking out 3 times. And Luke Maile and Yangervis Solarte hit home runs off him.

Lineups

Another lefty on the mound means that Granderson is on the bench. And Maile gets the start over Martin in a day game after a night game.

For the Tigers, Goodrum and Greiner are in for Machado and McCann.

Yesterday’s Heroes

Keon Broxton of the Brewers was the Monster Bat yesterday. He went 3-4 with a pair of home runs, a walk and even a stolen base while also driving in 4, helping beat the Reds 8-2.

Tyler Anderson went 8 shutout innings, allowing just 4 hits and a walk, as his Rockies beat the Dodgers 3-1. His efforts for the day earned him a .557 WPA and the title of WPA King, but that was it, because...

Marco Gonzalez went the distance, allowing 1 run on 6 hits over 9 innings as his Mariners beat the Royals 4-1, earning Gonzalez the Pitcher of the Day award.

Milestone Watch

Kendrys Morales is 2 home runs short of 200 for his career.

Find the Link

Find the link between Boyd and our second baseman.