Game 1: Tuesday, April 5 7:07 ET
Game 2: Wednesday, April 6 7:07 ET
Game 1: Thursday, April 7 12:37 ET
Probable Starters:
Game 1: Dallas Braden (0-0) vs. Jo-Jo Reyes (0-0)
Scouting Report: Dallas Braden (LHP)
High 80's Fastball
Low 70's Change-up
High 70's - Low 80's Slider
Mid 70's Curve
-Hits good spots on the fastball
-Out-pitch is the change-up
-Threw a perfect game last year
-Hates A-Rod
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Scouting Report: Jo-Jo Reyes (LHP)
Low 90's Fastball
Mid 70's Curveball
Low 80's Change-up
Low 80's Slider
-Out-pitch is the slider
-Have always done well at Spring Training in previous years, need to translate ST success into the regular season
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Game 2: Brandon McCarthy (0-0) vs. Jesse Litsch (0-0)
Scouting Report: Brandon McCarthy (RHP)
Low 90's Fastball
High 70's Change-up
Mid 70's Curveball
Low 80's Slider
-Did not play in the majors in 2010 due to injury.
-Previously a highly touted Texas Rangers pitching prospect.
-Beat out A's pitching prospect Tyson Ross for the fifth spot
-1.33 HR / 9 innnings ratio plays right into the Jays strength. Look for him to be out of the game by the 4th.
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Scouting Report: Jesse Litsch (RHP)
Low 90's Fastball
Mid 80's Slider
Mid 79's Change-up
Low 80's Curve
-Out for most of 2010 due to injury
-Not an over-powering presence in the mound
-Above average control
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Game 3: Trevor Cahill (1 GS, 0-0, 1.93 ERA) vs. Ricky Romero (1 GS, 1-0, 1.85 ERA)
Scouting Report: Trevor Cahill (RHP)
Low 90's Fastball
Low 80's Change-up
Low 80's Curveball
-Great movement on the fastball
-Great movement on the change-up
-The ace of the young and talented A's pitching staff.
-Struggled with his command on his last start, only lasting 4.2 innings.
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Scouting Report: Ricky Romero (LHP)
Low 90's Fastball
Mid 80's Change-up
Mid 70's Curveball
-Currently has one of the best change-ups in the game, today
-Great K/9 (7.5)
-Can struggle with control at times
-Needs to learn to be more efficient with his pitches if he truly wants to be the ace of this club.
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Projected Starting Line-ups
Oakland Athletics
CF Coco Crisp
1B Daric Barton
RF David DeJesus
LF Josh Willingham
DH Hideki Matsui
C Kurt Suzuki
2B Mark Ellis
3B Kevin Kouzmanoff
SS Cliff Pennington
Last Series Against the Mariners (1-2)
-The line-up had problems scoring runs averaging just over 3 runs / game, however they did face King Felix in Game 1.
-For an AL team, they do not show a lot of power and tend to play a lot of small ball.
Who's Hot:
Coco Crisp (.417 Avg, .462 OBP, .667 Slugging)
-Getting on base for nothing.
Who's Not:
David DeJesus (.083 Avg, .154 OBP, .083 Slugging)
-Just can't cash in the runs.
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Toronto Blue Jays
CF Rajai Davis
SS Yunel Escobar
RF Jose Bautista
1B Adam Lind
2B Aaron Hill
3B Edwin Encarnacion
LF Travis Snider
DH Juan Rivera
C J.P. Arencibia
-A very explosive line-up showing a lot of speed and power
-Need to show more patience at the plate in key situations
Who's Hot:
Jose Bautista (.455 Avg, .600 OBP, 1.000 Slugging)
-Best batflip in the league hands down.
Who's Not:
Edwin Encarnacion (.167 Avg, .154 OBP, .167 Slugging)
-Don't be surprised if he DH's for the series, with Nix playing third
