A day after announcing a significant lineup shakeup in an attempt to kick-start their struggling offence, the Toronto Blue Jays look to snap a four-game losing skid as they open an interleague series in St. Louis against the Cardinals.
The Blue Jays are batting .144 during their four-game slide.
Left fielder Corey Patterson (1 for 14 with six strikeouts during the skid) and Adam Lind (2 for 15 with five strikeouts) are particularly struggling.
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Jose Bautista, the majors’ home run leader with 22, is 2 for 15 with four strikeouts during the losing streak, and will now be changing positions.
In an attempt to get more production from third base, the Blue Jays (36-39) said Thursday they will shift the slugger to the infield. Bautista led the majors with 54 home runs last season – 17 coming in 48 games as a third baseman.
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Bautista moving back to third base
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Toronto third basemen have hit .177 with five homers and 26 RBIs in 2011. General manager Alex Anthopoulous said Bautista will take a few days before settling in at third.
“You start adding it all up, it made too much sense,” Anthopoulos said of the decision to shift Bautista on a conference call. “When you combine the fact that Snider is going to be back soon, and from what it looks like right now was starting to swing the bat well, and we all know the importance he has to us in this organization, Thames was very hot swinging the bat well, (Adam) Loewen is starting to swing the bat well, (David) Cooper has really continued to have a great year down there, you factor all those things and that we haven’t gotten production at third base, and that it looks like Brett (Lawrie) is going to take a little bit more time than we had hoped, I think this makes a whole lot more sense.
“It opens up playing time for some of our younger kids going forward, and obviously helps us in the short-term get some other left-handed bats in the lineup.”
Bautista’s move will hold until Lawrie, who was on the verge of being called up until a pitch broke his hand, is ready to go. Initial projections had him returning to action in the next couple of weeks, but Anthopoulos said the break has yet to heal and he can’t grip a bat without pain.
Lawrie will need some time to work back into game shape beforehand, so his return is not imminent.
Looking to build off his first win in more than a month, Brandon Morrow (3-4, 5.02 ERA) gets the call for the Blue Jays. The right-hander held Cincinnati to five hits over 6 2-3 innings Saturday as Toronto cruised to a 4-0 win.
In his only career start against St. Louis, Morrow held the Cardinals to five hits and struck out eight in eight innings of Toronto’s 5-0 win June 24, 2010.
The Cardinals will answer with Jake Westbrook (6-4, 5.16), who is 3-2 with a 4.46 ERA in eight career starts against the Blue Jays, all with Cleveland.
Jays vs. Cardinals Stats Pack (via Bloomberg Sports):
Lance Berkman vs. Blue Jays
In nine games vs. Toronto, Berkman is hitting .267 (8-30), 2 RBI, 3 BB. Since 2008 vs. the Jays, Berkman is hitting only .211 (4-19), RBI.
Brandon Morrow first pitch sequence (2011)
This season Morrow is throwing fastballs 67% of the time, sliders (24%), splitters (4%) and curveballs (4%).
With two strikes, Brandon uses his fastball 57% of the time, slider (42%), curveball (2%) and splitter (1%).
Morrow vs. Cardinals
One year ago today (6/24/2010) Morrow was spectacular against the Cardinals. His line that day: 8.0 IP, 8 K, 0 ER, 1 BB, leading the Jays to a 5-0 win. Morrow threw 112 pitches in the outing: fastball (58%), splitter (20%), slider (13%) and curveball (9%).
Jose Bautista vs. Jake Westbrook
Bautista has had success against Westbrook hitting .600 (3-5), 2B, HR, 3 RBI. In Bautista’s five at bats, Westbrook threw only two fastballs out of 24 total pitches, one being a high and inside 92 mph fastball, that Jose deposited into the left-field seats.
Jake Westbrook First Pitch Sequence (2011)
This season Westbrook has thrown sinkers 60% of the time, sliders (16%), changeups (12%), curveballs (9%), and fastballs (2%).
With two strikes, Westbrook utilizes his sinker 60% of the time, changeup (18%), slider (12%), curveball (8%) and fastball (1%).
Rauch struggles vs. Cardinals
Jon Rauch has had his problems vs. St. Louis during his career.
– In 13 games he is 0-1, two blown saves, 7.94 ERA, 11.1 IP, 10 R, 20 H, 4 BB, 7 K.
– In five games at Busch Stadium, Rauch is 0-1, 10.80 ERA, 3.1 IP, 4 R, 9 H, 0 BB, 2 K.
– The Cardinals are hitting .392 (20-51), 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 10 R, 10 RBI lifetime against him.
– Current Cardinals hitters are batting .333 (9-27), 3B, HR, and 5 RBI vs. Rauch. Holliday is hitting .375 (3-8), 2 RBI for his career vs. Rauch.
