Game #26 Preview: Anderson vs Stripling

For the first time this season, the Blue Jays will attempt to earn a 3 game sweep as they wrap up their series with the Braves. Gametime is set for 1:07 ET, so get your brooms in watching position (this will also help prevent them from being used for cleaning).

Blue Jays’ Starter

Amid a series of transactions this morning, the Jays re-activated Ross Stripling in order to make the start today. Stripling has been out since April 8 with forearm soreness, but he is apparently back and healthy now, something that the Jays’ pitching rotation is in desperate need of. I wouldn’t expect too many innings out of him though, as he didn’t get much of a chance to build back up.

Before landing on the Injured List, Stripling was off to a bit of a rough season, but he did have a few good signs as well. Through his 8.1 innings, he had allowed 7 runs on 13 hits and 2 home runs, but he also managed to strike out 10 against just 3 walks. He also didn’t get groundballs anywhere near his normal rate, something that will definitely drive a higher home run rate as well.

Braves’ Starter

Birthday boy Ian Anderson gets the start today, one of the better young pitchers in the game. Prior to losing his prospect status earlier this year, he was the overall number 13 prospect by Fangraphs, and number 34 by MLB.com. And he’s definitely living up to it, as he has started this year off great. He is currently 2-0 with a 2.48 ERA over 29.0 innings, collecting 31 strikeouts against 12 walks and 3 home runs.

The right handed Anderson features the standard fastball-changeup-curveball mix. His fastball sits in the mid-90s, and is currently his most hittable pitch, but not because it’s a meatball. It’s his most hittable pitch because his curveball is a tough one, and his changeup came into the season with a 70 grade, and is proving itself to be one of the best in the game. Anderson has the confidence and ability to throw the changeup to both lefties and righties, and really has a chance to be something special overall.

Blue Jays’ Lineup

The Jays have a few roster moves to figure out and announce before they announce their lineup today. I’ll maybe get it added here once it’s out, but note that Alejandro Kirk, along with Tommy Milone, are expected to be headed to the IL today, while Stripling and a catcher (probably Riley Adams) are added.

Braves’ Lineup

Yesterday’s Heroes

Jared Walsh went 4-4, launching two home runs, collecting a pair of singles and drawing a walk to pick up the Monster Bat award, keeping it away from George Springer. He helped his Angels to the 10-5 win over the Mariners.

A pair of Brewers finished 1-2 in the WPA King race. Avisaíl García had a big walk in the 10th inning and an even bigger single in the 11th, giving him second place with a .510 WPA. Travis Shaw takes home the award with a home run earlier in the game, a big walk of his own in the 10th, and a walk-off single in the 11th, giving him a very impressive .626 WPA. The Brewers won the game 6-5 over the Dodgers.

Jose Urquidy threw 7 shutout innings, allowing just 4 hits and a walk while striking out 5 to pick up the Pitcher of the Day award. He earned the win as well in the Astros’ 3-1 win over the Rays.

Find the Link

Find the link between Ian Anderson and Jay Bruce (something that Anderson will do today, while Bruce did it earlier this year).

Stats retrieved from Fangraphs and Baseball Savant