Vs.
The Toronto Blue Jays!
Game 1: Friday, July 31st
10:05 PM, Sportsnet
Scott Richmond Vs. Dallas Braden
Scouting Report:
Blue Jays: Richmond will likely return from the disabled list (shoulder) to make his 14th start of the season. He hasn't pitched since June 30, when he took the loss after allowing three runs over seven innings against Tampa Bay. Richmond gives the Jays another option to balance out their trio of young pitchers, and could be a key addition to the rotation if Roy Halladay is traded before the non-waiver Trade Deadline. He's faced Oakland once this year, an eight-inning effort that resulted in a loss after he allowed five runs on seven hits.
Athletics: Twice handed leads early in last Sunday's game at Yankee Stadium, Braden twice surrendered them and was fuming afterward because it continued a trend. He'd done the same thing in his previous start, a loss to the Twins in Oakland. The trend marks a pretty dramatic reversal for Braden, who spent the first three months of the season pitching like an ace but rarely had anything to show for it because his run support was among the worst in the American League. To wit, Braden on April 19 held the host Blue Jays to one run on five hits over 7 1/3 innings but was tagged with a 1-0 loss, and on May 10 in Oakland he posted another quality start againt Toronto but took a 5-0 loss.
Game 2: August 1st
9:05 PM, Sportsnet
Ricky Romero Vs. Trevor Cahill
Scouting Report:
Blue Jays: Romero wasn't real sharp in his last outing against the Mariners, but he managed to give a solid six innings in an 11-4 win. The lefty gave up four runs and 10 hits, but said he was happy with the way he attacked the strike zone and pitched to contact. Romero has been a reliable arm for the Jays all season, and his 11 quality starts are the second-most in the Majors for a rookie. He's never faced the Mariners.
Athletics: Cahill, who'd been outstanding in a victory over the Twins his previous time out, struggled against the host Red Sox in the opener of a four-game series on Monday, allowing six runs on 10 hits and two walks over five innings while absorbing his fourth loss in five decisions. A sinkerball specialist who need to keep his money pitch below opponents' knees to suceess, Cahill set the tone for his disappointing outing by surrendering a solo homer to Dustin Pedroia on a thigh-high fastball in the bottom of the first inning. Cahill has faced the Blue Jays once this year, allowing two runs on five hits and five walks over 5 1/3 innings on the way to a no-decision in Toronto on April 18.
Game 3: August 2nd
4:05 PM, Sportsnet
Ricky Romero Vs. Vin Mazzaro
Scouting Report:
Athletics: Mazzaro, a 22-year-old rookie, won the first two starts of his career but is winless in nine subsequent assignments, and it took a game-tying, three-run rally in the ninth inning Tuesday to prevent him from becoming the first A's starter to lose seven consecutive starts since Brian Kingman lost nine in a row in 1980. Mazzaro, who dominates when he keeps his fastball below the knees or above the belt, again struggled with location his last time out and gave up five runs in the third inning against the host Red Sox. In all, he was was charged with six runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out three over six innings. Mazzaro has never faced the Blue Jays.
