Monday, May 3 | 7:05 PM ET
TOR Brett Cecil, LHP (1-1, 3.55) @ CLE Mitch Talbot, RHP (3-1, 2.05)
Blue Jays: Despite losing, Cecil was simply outstanding in his last outing. He was limited to osix innings and 100 pitches, but the left-hander did all he could, surrendering only one run on five hits against a tough Boston lineup. The only run he allowed was on a Dustin Pedroia sacrifice fly in his last inning. Most impressive so far may be Cecil's ability to limit walks (two in 12 2/3 innings) and to throw strikes (62 percent of his pitches). The sophomore has limited Cleveland to one run in 13 career innings.
Indians: Talbot has been surprisingly stingy with the runs allowed this season. Plenty of balls get put in play against him, but he's done an excellent job limiting the damage on the scoreboard. Talbot has now notched three straight quality starts, allowing just two earned runs over 21 1/3 innings. In his last start against the Angels on Tuesday, he went 6 1/3 innings, allowing just a run on six hits with three walks and a strikeout. He got into a couple jams but was able to work his way out of them, thanks to his deep arsenal. To put it simply, the Indians are getting great value out of their fifth starter, who was the player to be named in the Kelly Shoppach trade with the Rays.
Tuesday, May 4 | 7:05 PM ET
TOR Ricky Romero, LHP (2-1, 2.25) @ CLE Jake Westbrook, RHP (0-2, 5.53)
Blue Jays: While Romero was not spectacular in his last outing vs. the A's on Wednesday, giving up three runs on four hits and four walks through six innings, he was still able to record his fifth straight quality start on his way to a 6-3 win. Romero was particularly happy with his outing, citing his ability to battle without his best stuff. The young left-hander will look to continue his success against the Indians, whom he has delivered a 1-0 record with a 2.25 ERA over eight career innings.
Indians: It could be a product of missing nearly two years because of Tommy John elbow surgery, but Westbrook has had issues with endurance. His last start, against the Angels on Wednesday, was a prime example. Westbrook cruised for the better part of his first five innings, but he lost effectiveness in the sixth. He let the first two men of the inning aboard, then served up a game-tying, three-run homer to Torii Hunter, thereby saddling himself with no decision. Westbrook hasn't notched a Major League win since April 8, 2008. This will be his first start against Toronto since May 2, 2007.
Wednesday, May 5 | 12:05 PM ET
TOR Brandon Morrow, RHP (2-2, 5.46) @ CLE Fausto Carmona, RHP (3-1, 4.05)
Blue Jays: This season has been a tale of two Morrows. Through his first two starts of the season, Morrow surrendered 12 runs on 12 hits over nine innings. Through his past three starts, Morrow has pitched 19 innings and allowed only five runs while striking out 25. Morrow has even said that he feels more comfortable working out of the stretch this season, where he has been able to escape several jams via the strikeout. Morrow, who was plagued by the home run in his first two starts (three), has not given up a long ball over his past three outings, a sign of increased control. The right-hander has never started a game vs. the Indians, but is 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA in a relief role.
Indians: Carmona followed up his strongest start of the season with his least effective. Whereas he dominated the A's for 7 1/3 innings in Oakland on April 24, he labored in six innings against the Twins on Friday. He allowed six runs on eight hits with two walks, a wild pitch and two strikeouts. He was less efficient than he had been in previous outings, needing 102 pitches to get through the six innings. While the outing wasn't an outright disaster, it was a step back for Carmona, who had been steadily improving with each previous start in April.
