Game #52 Preview: Ryu vs Velasquez

The Blue Jays will attempt to put a stop to their rough losing streak this evening, as they take on the Phillies in game 3 of their 4 game series. Gametime is set for 6:05 EDT.

Blue Jays’ Starter

The Jays will turn to their Ace, and also their last pitcher to earn a win, in Hyun-Jin Ryu. Ryu picked up the win last Sunday against the Mets by allowing just 1 run on 8 hits no walks over 6 very strong innings. That start was an excellent bounce back from his rough outing his time before against the Yankees, and fits right in with the half dozen great starts he had before that Yankee one.

Overall on the season, Ryu is 4-1 with a 3.00 ERA over 54 innings. He has struck out an impressive 60 batters, against just 14 walks, and those 14 walks represent a higher rate than what Ryu has done previously in his career, so a continual improvement on that front is definitely a possibility.

Phillies’ Starter

Right hander Vince Velasquez gets the start today, and he’s still looking to pick up his first win of the season in this his 6th start and 8th appearance overall. Across 23.2 innings, Velasquez is 0-1 with a 6.46 ERA, although a fair bit better 4.29 FIP. He has done an excellent job generating strikeouts, punching out 34 batters, but has had a lot of difficulties keeping runners off the bases with 12 walks and 28 hits.

Velasquez faced the Jays when the teams had their double header in Buffalo back on August 20. He pitched 5+ innings, where he allowed 4 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks, striking out 7. He allowed a pair of home runs, one to Teoscar Hernandez in the first inning and the other to Rowdy Tellez in the 6th. Between those 2 home runs, Velasquez really shut down the Jays, allowing just a single in 4 innings, striking out 6.

Blue Jays’ Lineup

It should be up soon, and I’ll try to post it when it is. Otherwise, someone else can throw it in the comments.

Phillies’ Lineup

It should be up soon, and I’ll try to post it when it is. Otherwise, someone else can throw it in the comments.

Yesterday’s Heroes

Brian Anderson had a big day yesterday, launching 3 home runs in the second game of the double header to get the Monster Bat award. He drove in 7 runs in the Marlins’ 14-3 win, and went hitless in the Nationals’ 5-0 win.

Bryce Harper had a pair of big games yesterday, launching a 2 run home run in game 1 to put the Phillies up 3-0, then in game 2 he had the big game tying double in the bottom of the 6th, all adding up to a WPA King total of .597 WPA.

Kyle Hendricks was one of seven pitchers who threw at least 6 shutout innings yesterday, but he made it through 8 innings, and that gets him the Pitcher of the Day award. He held the Twins off the board by scattering 3 hits and a walk while striking out 10 in the Cubs’ 1-0 win.

Standings Watch

Current seed: 8th (unchanged from yesterday)
Games back of the Yankees for 2nd in East: 4 (+1.5 from yesterday)
Games back of Cleveland for 7th seed: 2 (+1.5 from yesterday)
Games up on 9th: 4 (-0.5 from yesterday)
Magic Number to clinch a playoff spot: 6 (-1 from yesterday)

Find the Link

Find the link between Andrew McCutchen and Ryan Braun.