Game #107 Preview: Stroman vs Manaea

The Blue Jays look to avoid the 3 game sweep at the hands of the Athletics this afternoon. The game is scheduled for 3:35 ET, so don’t forget that’s it’s early and luck out by missing it.

Blue Jays’ Starter

The Jays turn to Marcus Stroman to try and get some good pitching. Stroman has spent the last couple months whittling away at his unsightly ERA that he accumulated while trying to pitch through a shoulder injury. In total now, Stroman is 4-7 with a 5.20 ERA, much better than the 0-5 with a 7.71 ERA that Stroman had when he went on the DL on May 8. So since coming back on June 23, Stroman has pitched to a 2.98 ERA, pitching much more like the Marcus Stroman we were all expecting at the start of the year.

Athletics’ Starter

Sean Manaea looks to put the final nail in the Jays’ coffin. Likely the man who the A’s would call upon if they do make the Wild Card game, Manaea is 9-7 with a 3.46 ERA. He’s had a few bumps in the road, specifically May when he allowed at least 4 runs in each of his 6 starts, the only starts this season he’d allow that many. But he’s also had some great moments, like on April 21 when he struck out 10 while throwing a no-hitter against the Red Sox.

Manaea faced the Jays on May 19, where he lasted just 5 innings, surrendering 4 runs on 5 hits, striking out just 2 while walking 3. Gio Urshela hit a home run off him, while Sam Gaviglio pitched 5.1 shutout innings. However, this would be one of the games where the bullpen imploded (if you remember that happening), as Axford loaded the bases and Clippard let them all come in on a Chad Pinder grand slam.

Blue Jays’ Lineup

Ken Giles is slated to meet the team in Seattle, and I’m hoping that means that the team is looking to do the big roster shakeup there.

In the meantime, Lourdes Gurriel sits on the bench with a sprained ankle and knee, unable to play. Teoscar Hernandez sat out yesterday with no-hustleitis. Moonlight Sweeney might get another inning in the field, but he’s likely to be off the team before they get to Seattle.

I would imagine Hernandez is actually back in the field in this one. No-hustleitis is usually a 24-hour infliction.

Brandon Drury sat yesterday, but he won’t sit 2 in a row (unless he’s injured).

Russell Martin will catch Stroman.

Athletics’ Lineup

Dustin Fowler has spent the first 2 games of this series on the bench, and actually hasn’t started since July 26. He’s in a bit of a hitting funk at the moment, so I’m sure it was just an opportunity to clear his head. He may or may not actually be in this one, just as he may or may not be headed back to AAA eventually, as Susan Slusser reports.

There’s probably a good chance that Josh Phegley catches in this one, as Jonathan Lucroy has caught the first 2 games.

Franklin Barreto, acquired when the A’s gave Josh Donaldson to us, has been with the big league club since July 29. So far he has been limited to a pinch hit strikeout, but he might get the start today as well.

Yesterday’s Heroes

Daniel Murphy went 3-4 with a pair of homers yesterday, driving in 6 and earning our Monster Bat award. His entire team was worthy of the Monster Bat award though, as the Nationals laid an absolute beating on the Mets by a score 25-4. Jose Reyes pitched an inning, and this version of #positionplayerpitching went poorly - 6 runs on 5 hits and a pair of walks and homers.

Matt Boyd threw 8 shutout innings, striking out 7 and walking just 1 while also surrendering 4 hits. His exploits earn him the Pitcher of the Day honour, as well as the WPA King title as he contributed .600 WPA to the Tigers’ 2-1 win over the Reds.

Find the Link

Find the link between Manaea and the only Kevin Brown to reach the Majors who was not a first round draft pick.