Opponent: Toronto Blue Jays
Record: 27-24, .529, 4 GB (AL East)
Place: SkyDome
Time & TV: Game 1: 7:05 p.m. (Fox Sports Chi./ESPN2); Game 2: 7:05 p.m.
(Fox Sports Chi.); Game 3: 7:05 p.m. (Fox Sports Chi.); Game 4: 7:05
p.m. (WCIU)
2002 Record vs Sox: 2-4
2003 Record vs Sox: 1-2
THE LATEST
They are led by Carlos Delgado (.326) and
Sox-killer Frank Catalanotto (.319) at the plate. The Blue Jays lead
the AL in runs, OBP, OPS, hits and RBIs on offense, and lead the AL in
strikeouts. The pitching rotation is led by Roy Halladay (5-2, 4.36),
and the bullpen is headed by Doug Linton and Cliff Politte (8 SVs). The
Jays lead the league in hits allowed and have not yet pitched a
shutout. Toronto is also tied for the lowest fielding percentage in the
AL.
WHO'S HOT (Last 7 Days)
Carlos Delgado, 1B: .370, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 4 2B, 7 R
--Delgado has been on a tear. He has been a free-swinger
lately, and he has not missed. His hot hitting over the last seven days
has put him in the league lead for home runs, RBIs, walks, OBP and OPS.
WHO'S NOT (Last 7 Days)
Chris Woodward, SS: .077, 1 hit in 13 at-bats, 6 K’s
--Woodward has been hampered by a sore shoulder as of late, and was
one of the few non-producers in the Toronto sweep of the New York
Yankees.
PITCHING PROBABLES
Game #1:
Mark Buehrle (2-7, 5.19, 29 K) vs. Mark Hendrickson (4-4, 5.37, 25 K)
--Hendrickson has been one of Toronto’s most dependable starters as of
late, holding opponents to four runs or less in each of his last four
starts. However, opponents are batting .309 off him and his
strikeout numbers have steadily decreased since striking out seven
against the Minnesota Twins.
Game #2:
Bartolo Colon (5-3, 3.61, 45 K) vs. Roy Halladay (5-2, 4.36, 57 K)
--Halladay was the Blue Jay ace coming into this year and has proved
so far that he can be a consistent starter. He leads the Jays in
strikeouts and has went seven innings or more in his last five starts,
and in seven of his eleven starts. Halladay, however, has been prone to
the longball. He has also given up two or more runs in every start.
Game #3:
Jon Garland (2-4, 5.70, 22 K) vs. Kelvim Escobar (2-1, 6.04, 30 K)
--Escobar has been moved all over the Jays staff. He received his first
win as a starter on May 23 against the Yankees, and he also has four
saves. Opponents are batting .299 against Escobar, and he has steadily
lowered his ERA since the beginning of the season. He is 1-0 with one
save and an ERA of 1.20 in May.
Game #4:
Esteban Loaiza (7-2, 1.92, 53 K) vs. Cory Lidle (8-2, 4.42, 50 K)
--Sox-killer Cory Lidle has been Toronto’s hottest pitcher this year,
and he now leads the AL in wins with eight. He has won his last six
decisions and has lowered his ERA from above six. In his last two
starts he has pitched 17 innings, only giving up 4 runs. He is starting
to give up home runs again, and has allowed numerous runs in every
start. If the Sox can get another strong performance from Loaiza, Lidle
can be beat.
KEY TO THE SERIES
Hit the ball. The Sox have had good pitching performances wasted
against the Detroit Tigers because they could not get the bat on the
ball. If the Sox can just manufacture some runs, they can come out of
this series with a win or a split.