The Cincinnati Reds were one of the biggest positive surprises while the Toronto Blue Jays were one of the biggest stories on the downside. Now, these two teams are set to meet in a best of three series with the difference between their respective records minimal. The Jays are trending upward and are getting healthy while the Reds’ horrendous starting rotation is starting to take its toll.
This series will be contested from Monday, May 29, 2017 through Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.
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Pitching Matchups
For those who don’t pay too close of attention to either the Reds or the Blue Jays, the pitching matchups in this series will leave many scratching their heads. Aside from Marcus Stroman for the Jays on Monday, there aren’t a whole lot of familiar names.
For instance, the Reds will use Lisalverto Bonilla on Monday. Bonilla is yet another non-prospect getting a chance in the wasteland that is the Reds’ rotation.
Bonilla debuted in the big-leagues in 2014 with the Rangers, went 3-0 with a 3.05 ERA in 20.2 innings and disappeared back into the minor leagues.
The now 27-year old has been a lot more pedestrian this time around, but he’s already gotten more innings and will continue to get even more given the lack of other options for the Reds.
Overall, Bonilla is 0-2 with a 6.17 ERA and 1.457 WHIP in 23.1 innings. He’s walked 11 with just 16 strikeouts for a 1.45 K/BB ratio.
He’s constantly getting hit and hit hard. He’s allowed a home run in every game and has given up at least three runs in each as well.
Stroman, meanwhile, is mostly known for his postseason heroics a couple years ago. He had a disappointing year last year after he was expected to take on the ace role with David Price leaving via free agency.
Stroman didn’t take that opportunity, but after a year of adjustments, he’s looking more like that ace now. He’s 5-2 for an under-.500 team and has pitched to a 3.30 ERA. He’s still allowed a few too many base runners, but is getting out of trouble and limiting the damage. He’s finally living up to expectations and the Jays have now won each of his last four starts.
Tuesday, the Jays will give the start to T.J. House who is probably best known for the line drive off the noggin in the spring training game this past March.
The former Indian is getting another chance in the majors after a 4-4 record and 3.48 ERA in Triple-A though 21 walks in 44 innings in the minors doesn’t elicit too much confidence.
One thing House does have going for him is a pronounceable name. His counterpart, Asher Wojciechowski, doesn’t have that luxury.
Wojciechowski made his debut earlier this month with 3.2 scoreless innings and followed up getting hit hard in a third of a frame against Philadelphia, but with this rotation, that’s showing plenty to get a chance to start.
The series finale will feature Tim Adleman and Mike Bolsinger. Adleman through eight scoreless frames against the Phillies in his last start. Even with that, his ERA is just barely under-5. Adleman was lights out against a bad offense and it took nearly pinpoint control for him to do that.
Bolsinger is not long for this rotation. With Francisco Liriano on the mend, his 5.75 ERA isn’t likely to hold down the spot. He gives up way too many free passes and hits and his 1.869 WHIP tells most of the story.
Injury Report
The Blue Jays have been riddled with injuries to key position players, pitchers and relivers alike. The rotation is still a bit of a puzzle with John Gibbons trying to find the right pieces until the starting five is all healthy at the same time, but the lineup is finally starting to come together.
Josh Donaldson and Troy Tulowitzki are both off the DL, meaning no more creative lineups and sliding Russell Martin or Jose Bautista over to the hot corner to try and get someone with a bat on the left-side of the infield. Both Ryan Goins and Darwin Barney performed admirably on defense, but the offense now has a major upgrade with Donaldson and Tulo.
When we factor in Devon Travis finally hitting and Jose Bautista’s bat back to a .350+ OBP and nine homers, this offense is much better than the total runs scored on the year would suggest.
Sure, the Jays aren’t the same prolific offensive club that ran away with the league lead in runs scored a couple years ago, but they’re still one of the better offensive clubs now that everyone is healthy—or mostly everyone.
The Reds are also happy to get a key player back in the fold. Catcher Devin Mesoraco has been injured the last few years, but he’s now played 19 games and has a .808 OPS, offering some pop and a good eye on the dish.
Betting Trends
Each time it seems like you can write off the Reds, they surprise you with enough to get back in the conversation.
A seven-game losing streak in the middle of the month seemed to be the end of the nice story of the overachieving team in Cincinnati.
That rotation can’t win. Everyone knows that. It’s a matter of when this team will crash and burn, not when, but each time it looks like it is happening. The Reds, to this point, have saved the ship.
Right now, Cincinnati has won three of its last four games all on the road despite entering these last four games with a 6-11 road record.
The Blue Jays, meanwhile, come into the series off a loss. They won five straight before that, but have been a very streaky team this year. The key for the Jays, if they want to get back in the AL East race, will be to avoid another long losing speed. After their last five game winning streak, they went on to lose three of four to Atlanta and two of three to Baltimore.
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