
Friday May 8th - Sportsnet 10PM
Scott Richmond, RHP (4-0, 2.67) vs. Josh Outman, LHP (0-0, 4.41)
Scouting Report:
Blue Jays: Richmond allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks against Baltimore at Rogers Centre on Sunday. He pitched seven innings, which matched a career high, throwing 99 pitches, 68 of which were for strikes. He has made one career start against Oakland (Aug. 5, 2008), earning a win while giving up three runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Athletics: Outman turned in the best start of his young career, tossing six strong innings against the first-place Mariners. For the first time in his three 2009 starts, Outman only walked one batter, and his five strikeouts matched his total from his April 17 start in Toronto. Outman got through the six innings in 87 pitches, and 55 of those were thrown for strikes. The lefty's only hiccup came in the fourth inning, when Jose Lopez led off with a single and Mike Sweeney followed with a two-run home run to left field. Otherwise, Outman induced six ground-ball outs and three popups in his second Major League victory.
Saturday May 9th - Sportsnet 4PM
Brian Tallet, LHP (1-1, 5.83) vs. Sean Gallagher, RHP (1-0, 3.86)
Scouting Report:
Blue Jays: Tallet took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the Indians on Monday before giving up a single to Ryan Garko with one out. He earned a no-decision in a game the Jays lost, 9-7, in 12 innings. He gave up three runs on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts in seven innings -- the longest outing of his career. Tallet threw a season-high 94 pitches in his fourth start since being moved from the bullpen to the rotation due to injuries to Toronto's starters.
Athletics: Gallagher is making a spot start in place of rookie lefty Brett Anderson, who is being skipped after having to leave his past two starts with a bothersome blister on his left index finger. Upon taking over for Anderson on Monday, Gallagher, 23, worked 3 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up three hits without a walk while striking out three. Gallagher, who throws a mid-90s fastball, failed to win a spot on the starting staff at Spring Training despite entering camp as a near lock and opened the year in the A's bullpen; he made three appearances before being optioned to Triple-A Sacramento to join the River Cats' rotation. He made two starts in the Minors and didn't allow a hit or a run over five innings while walking three and striking out seven. Obtained in the trade that sent Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin to the Cubs last summer, Gallagher made two starts against Toronto last season and lost both, allowing seven earned runs in a total of eight innings.
Sunday May 10th - Sportsnet 4PM
Brett Cecil, LHP (0-0, 1.50) vs. Dallas Braden, LHP (3-3, 2.50)
Scouting Report:
Blue Jays: Cecil, one of the Jays' top pitching prospects, made his Major League debut against Cleveland on Tuesday, going six strong innings and giving up two runs on six hits. Only one of the runs was earned, as Cleveland's Matt LaPorta scored on a fielding error by left fielder Travis Snider. Cecil hit three batters, but did not allow any walks and recorded six strikeouts.
Athletics: Braden, Oakland's Opening Night starter, has been the most consistent member of the rotation by a mile. He's worked at least six innings in four of his six starts and has three of the rotation's four wins. He wasn't at his best against the Angels on Tuesday, allowing three earned runs on eight hits and a walk over six innings, and given the run support he's gotten this year, he needs to be at his best to win. The A's have been shut out twice in his starts, and on Tuesday they scored once while he was in the game. One of those shutouts came on April 19, when Braden took the loss despite allowing one run on five hits over 7 1/3 innings.