Series Preview: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Colorado Rockies 4/12-4/14

The Toronto Blue Jays will take on the Colorado Rockies for three games this weekend. The Blue Jays are coming off a series win over the Mariners while the Rockies are coming off a series loss to the Diamondbacks.

Toronto Blue Jays (6-7) vs. Colorado Rockies (3-10)

Game 1:

Date: Friday, April 12
Time: 7:07 pm EST
Broadcast: Sportsnet

Game 2:

Date: Saturday, April 13
Time: 3:07 pm EST
Broadcast: Sportsnet

Game 3:

Date: Sunday, April 14
Time: 1:37 pm EST
Broadcast: Sportsnet

Probable Starting Pitchers

Game 1: Kevin Gausman (0-1, 9.53 ERA) vs. Ryan Feltner (0-0, 3.27 ERA)

Gausman will get the series started, he is 0-1 with a 9.53 ERA, a 9.58 FIP, a 1.41 WHIP, and six strikeouts in 5.2 innings. In his last start against the Yankees, he went 1.1 innings giving up six runs, five earned on four hits; he walked two and didn’t record a strikeout. In his career against Colorado, he is 2-1 with a 4.46 ERA, a 1.12 WHIP, and 51 strikeouts in 38.1 innings. Feltner will get the ball for the Rockies and he is 0-0 with a 3.27 ERA, a 3.23 FIP, a 1.00 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts in 11 innings. His last start against the Rays he went six innings giving up one run on two hits; he walked two and struck out a career-high ten. He has never faced Toronto in his career.

Game 2: Bowden Francis (0-2, 12.96 ERA) vs. Dakota Hudson (0-2, 2.38 ERA)

Francis has struggled this season going 0-2 with a 12.96 ERA, an 8.39 FIP, a 1.92 WHIP, and 12 strikeouts in 8.1 innings. In his last start against the Yankees, he went three innings giving up five runs on two hits; he walked three and struck out five. He has never faced the Rockies in his career. Hudson this season is 0-2 with a 2.38 ERA, a 2.96 FIP, a 1.23 WHIP, and six strikeouts in 11.1 innings. In his last start against the Rays in six innings he gave up three runs on seven hits; he walked one and struck out four. He has also never faced Toronto in his career.

Game 3: Jose Berrios (2-0, 1.45 ERA) vs. Kyle Freeland (0-2, 16.03 ERA)

Berrios gets the finale and will make his fourth start of the season going 2-0 with a 1.45 ERA, a 3.92 FIP, a 1.12 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts in 18.2 innings. In his last start against the Mariners, he went 6.2 innings, he didn’t allow a run on four hits; he walked one and struck out six. In his lone start against Colorado, he went 7.2 innings, and he didn’t give up a run on two hits; he walked one and struck out 11. Freeland will oppose Berrios he is 0-2 with a 16.03 ERA, a 7.73 FIP, a 2.90 WHIP, and six strikeouts in 10.2 innings. In his last start against the Diamondbacks, he went five innings giving four runs, two earned on six hits; he walked two and struck out two. He has never faced the Blue Jays in his career.

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Colorado Rockies Leaders

Blue Jays:

AVG – Justin Turner – .342
HR – Vladimir Guerrero – 3
RBI – Alejandro Kirk – 7
IP – Jose Berrios – 18.2
ERA – Jose Berrios – 1.45
K – Yusei Kikuchi – 20

Rockies:

AVG – Ryan McMahon – .383
HR – Miguel Toglia – 3
RBI – Ryan McMahon – 9
IP – Cal Quantrill – 15.0
ERA – Dakota Hudson – 2.38
K – Ryan Feltner – 14

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Colorado Rockies Numbers

Blue Jays

AVG: .212 (25)
OPS: .652 (23)
R: 47 (23)
HR: 11 (21)
ERA: 4.90 (22)
K: 108 (15)
WHIP: 1.45 (26)

Rockies

AVG: .245 (13)                       
OPS:  .707 (15)
R: 54 (17)
HR: 12 (17)
ERA: 6.57 (30)
K: 89 (28)
WHIP: 1.78 (30)

Wrap Up

The Toronto Blue Jays are coming off a big series win over the Mariners and now have a very winnable series that Toronto has a chance to sweep with Gausman and Berrios pitching, the one hiccup is Francis but this series is against a team that ranks in the middle of the pack in hitting he could garner some optimism to get back on track.