Game #106 Preview: Gaviglio vs Cahill

After an embarrassing loss last night in the series opener, the Jays look to rebound in game 2 of the 3 game set. Tonight’s game gets underway at 10:05 ET.

Blue Jays’ Starter

One of the players most likely to make it through the trade deadline a Blue Jay, Sam Gaviglio makes the start for the Jays in this one. He is 2-3 with a 4.65 ERA, equally matching his FIP over 13 starts and a pair of relief appearances.

Gaviglio has had his ups and downs throughout the year, pitching a lot like the backend starter that he is. His last time out, he allowed 3 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks over 5 innings, doing a great job getting the ball on the ground (68.8% GB rate), but ultimately throwing a lot of pitches and not going deep in the game.

Athletics’ Starter

Veteran righty Trevor Cahill, making his 12th start of the season and 4th since coming back from the DL, is having a pretty good season. He is 2-2 with a 3.43 ERA, right in line with his 3.41 FIP. He has been striking out batters at a newfound rate (8.43 per 9 innings) while walking fewer than he ever has before (2.86 per 9 innings).

Cahill hasn’t looked right since returning from the DL, a trip necessitated by a “minor” achilles injury. In his 3 starts since coming back, he has averaged fewer than 5 innings, but walked 3 batters in each while averaging 4 strikeouts and getting fewer groundballs than normal. He’s allowed 9 runs on 12 hits and 9 walks over 14.2 innings, so to me, he’s not right yet.

Blue Jays’ Lineup

I won’t even pretend to know what this roster is going to look like by the time the game rolls around. The trade deadline is at 4:00pm ET, so that, coupled with possibly some Buffalo shuttling, could lead to an entirely different looking lineup.

Devon Travis and Lourdes Gurriel could very well be headed for the DL, although Travis both seems less likely because it doesn’t seem so severe, and more likely because it’s Travis.

Teoscar Hernandez continues to look like a guy who could use a break away from the big league club. Solarte could fit that description too.

Granderson is probably most likely not to be here by gametime, and I’m thinking Dalton Pompey, who was pulled from Buffalo’s game on Sunday and wasn’t in the lineup there last night either, is already in Oakland and ready to go for tonight’s game.

And the pair of guys that we wanted one of them moved, Russell Martin and Luke Maile, both appear likely to stay put, and Danny Jansen will continue to be trapped in AAA.

Athletics’ Lineup

Jaime Garcia helped them look even better than they are last night. Although they did seem to do a good job against Estrada as well, chipping away throughout the night. I can see why they’re one of the best in the league.

Nick Martini is having a 2018 to remember. After toiling away for years in the Cardinals system, playing in AA and AAA in each of 2015, 2016 and 2017, he came to the Athletics as a Minor League free agent this past winter. He once again lit up AAA, so the A’s gave him a chance. And he hasn’t disappointed yet - in his first 19 games he is hitting .325/.426/.500, playing solid enough outfield defense and hitting at the top of the lineup. He has historically had a high OBP in the Minors, and should continue to be a pretty good option for the A’s at the top of the order.

Yesterday’s Heroes

Jose Ramirez was yesterday’s Monster Bat award winner. The MVP candidate went 2-4 with a pair of homers and a walk, but it wasn’t quite enough as Cleveland fell 5-4 to the Twins.

Aaron Nola and David Price were locked in a good pitcher’s duel in Boston last night. They both ultimately went 8 innings, allowing 1 run, but Boston finally emerged victorious in the 13th over the Phillies. Nola and Price both contributed .451 WPA to earn the WPA King title.

Canadian James Paxton threw 7 shutout innings, allowing just 3 hits and no walks to earn Pitcher of the Day honours. He held a good hitting Houston team down as the Mariners won 2-0.

Milestone Watch

I don’t even know who will be on the roster in this one, but if Gurriel is healthy and playing he does have that exciting 11 game multi-hit streak he is looking to extend.

Not on the Jays, but Trevor Cahill is making his 200th career start.

Find the Link

Find the link between Cahill and Rafael Soriano.