Tonight we start a three game series with the Astros and then four games with the Rangers all at Rogers Centre. And then Bo and the Mets come to town, to dazzle us with their vocal stylings.
They are pushing the starters back a day with the rain out. We will have:
Monday: Dylan Cease
Tuesday: Shane Bieber, making his first start of the season.
Wednesday: Trey Yesavage
Thursday: Kevin Gausman
Friday: Patrick Corbin
The Astros are fourth in the AL West at 37-42, but they are 10-8 this month.
The Rangers are
much the same, 37-40 and 9-9 this month.
And, apparently, newly acquired Luis Urias will not be going to Buffalo, but will join the major league team because he had an ‘upward mobility’ clause in his contract. He had a date in his contract where had to be promoted to the majors or offered to other teams. I wonder who will be leaving to make room for him. I’m sure as soon as I hit publish, that news will come out.
MLB.com has “Three Questions The Blue Jays Must Answer Before The Deadline”.
- Who is the #5 starter after the deadline?
We have more than a month before the trade deadline, many things can happen between now and then. Hopefully, none of those things will be injuries. Patrick Corbin has the job at the moment, but he’s had a rough time in his last 5 starts, with a 6.64 ERA, average just 4 innings per starts.
Jake Bloss has started on a rehab assignment. He might be ready to join the major league team by August. And Ricky Tiedeman has just started pitching, on his way back from Tommy John. He’s going to need longer that Bloss.
I’m sure the front office will be looking to see if they can make a deal for a starting pitcher.
- 2) Do the Blue Jays have something in Keys?
He does look like a good left-handed bat. The team has an abundance of lefty bats, but Keys has 18 home runs in just 64 minor league games, mostly with New Hampshire, but he’s in Buffalo now and hasn’t slowed down, .284/.411/.595 in 15 games. He can play first and third. We’ll know they are ready to bring him up when he starts playing some second base.
- Who are the likeliest trade candidates?
See question above. When I see the beat writers talking up a minor leaguer before the deadline, I starting thinking that they are shopping him. It would take a lot to make them give up JoJo Parker. Beyond that, for the right player, they would have to be willing to trade anyone.
