RealGM

Scouting Report:
Rays: Niemann continued to show he's been perhaps the most consistent starter in the Rays rotation in a win against the Orioles on Wednesday. He gave up one run in 7 1/3 innings while surrendering seven hits, striking out five and walking one. Niemann was pretty close to hurling his team-leading third shutout, but with one out in the eighth, he gave up a solo home run to Brian Roberts, then left after throwing 103 pitches -- 67 for strikes. The 26-year-old was in serious trouble in the fifth, when the Orioles loaded the bases with no outs, but he got out of it thanks to a diving stop and heads-up throw home for the forceout by shortstop Jason Bartlett. Niemann's 11 wins easily lead the club, and he's 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA since May 13. He is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in two career starts against the Blue Jays.
Blue Jays: In an atypical performance by the Jays' ace, Halladay lasted only five innings in a 6-1 loss to the Red Sox on Wednesday at Rogers Centre. It was the first time Halladay pitched fewer than six innings -- excluding injury-shortened appearances -- since June 14, 2008. He gave up five runs -- four earned -- on eight hits and issued two walks, allowing two home runs. He had seven strikeouts on the night. In four starts against the Rays this year, Halladay is 1-2 with an ERA of 2.10.

Scouting Report:
Rays: A lack of run support gave Shields a loss against the Orioles on Thursday. The 27-year-old gave up just one run through the first five innings, but he saw his pitch count get all the way up to 89 going into the sixth. In that inning, Baltimore loaded the bases with two outs, and Shields left after throwing 106 pitches. At that point, Lance Cormier came out of the bullpen and surrendered a grand slam to Brian Roberts. Shields was charged with four runs (one earned) in 5 2/3 innings, giving up seven hits and walking two while striking out five. The Rays are averaging just 3.55 runs per nine innings when he takes the mound, which is the lowest run support in the American League. For his career against the Blue Jays, Shields -- who has just one win since June 20 -- is 4-4 with a 3.35 ERA in 11 starts.
Blue Jays: Cecil took a loss for the first time since May 20 on Thursday as the Jays fell to the Red Sox, 8-1. He lasted only 4 1/3 innings, allowing six runs -- four earned, on six hits. He struck out only two batters, while walking three. Three of the runs Cecil gave up came via two home runs by Boston right fielder J.D. Drew. Cecil committed a costly error in the fourth inning, throwing a live ball into the dugout for a two-base error. In one start and one relief appearance against the Rays this season, Cecil is 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA.

Scouting Report:
Rays: Kazmir had one of his best starts of the season in his last outing, on Friday night against the Rangers. He allowed only a solo home run before exiting the game with one out and two aboard in the eighth. Both runners eventually scored and were charged to Kazmir, making his performance look less impressive than it was. The Rays left-hander has been inconsistent for most of the season, but he managed to keep his pitch count low on Friday night while keeping his fastball in the 93-mph range. Kazmir is 4-4 with a 4.04 ERA in 13 career starts against the Blue Jays; he is 3-3 with a 4.89 ERA in six career starts at Rogers Centre.
Blue Jays: Rzepczynski earned his first win since July 18 with his best performance of the season in a 5-4 victory over the Angels on Friday at Rogers Centre. The rookie pitched a season-high 6 1/3 innings, limiting the Angels to one run on three hits. He issued just one walk -- the fewest free passes he's allowed this year -- and struck out six. Rzepczynski only has nine Major League starts under his belt, but two have come against the Rays. He is 1-0 with an ERA of 3.33 in those two starts, which both lasted six innings.

Brinbe wrote:loleague

Schadenfreude wrote:

Brinbe wrote:loleague

Throwback24 wrote:Sniderrrrrr!

tsherkin wrote:Brett Cecil must still be injured. That's his fourth straight bad or middling start, and the third time in four appearances he's given up 4+ runs.