Toronto @ San Diego preview
Petco Park
The Toronto Blue Jays opened June hoping to prove that their hot start to the season wasn't an aberration.
They've done exactly the opposite so far this month - and Monday could provide more of the same as they face another formidable team and a pitcher who has their number.
The Blue Jays travel to San Diego for the first time in nearly six years as they begin a three-game series against the NL West-leading Padres. The teams have met just once before, with visiting Toronto winning two of three against the Padres in June 2004.
The teams combined for just 13 runs in that three-game series, typical numbers for traditionally stingy Petco Park. That doesn't bode well for the 2010 edition of the Blue Jays, who have scored just 13 runs in dropping five of their last six games.
Toronto still leads the majors with 99 home runs, but that might not help at Petco - one of the league's toughest homer havens.
The Blue Jays entered June within striking distance of the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays, but have gone 3-8 for the month to slip into fourth place in the division. It hasn't helped that all 11 games have come against teams with winning records - and things don't get any easier, either, as Toronto's next 12 contests are against teams above the .500 mark.
The second half of the Blue Jays' brutal stretch begins against a Padres team that took two of three at home against the Seattle Mariners over the weekend.
The series victory leaves San Diego a game up on the Los Angeles Dodgers in what is shaping up to be a crowded division. The San Francisco Giants are 1 1/2 games back of the lead, while the Colorado Rockies are just four games out. The Rockies have Toronto to thank for their resurgence, as they swept the Blue Jays out of town while outscoring them 16-6 in the process.
As if the task wasn't daunting enough, the Blue Jays face Jon Garland (6-4) in Monday's series opener. Garland has given Toronto fits over his career, posting an 11-2 record with a 3.96 ERA all-time. Two of his 10 career complete games have come against the Blue Jays.
Garland could use some good mojo, having gone 0-2 over his last three outings. He was decent his last time out, allowing three runs on eight hits in six innings - but he was outpitched by Jon Niese, who twirled a one-hit shutout as the New York Mets earned the 3-0 victory.
Shaun Marcum (5-3) counters for the Blue Jays. After a hot May that saw him go 5-0 with a 1.85 ERA, Marcum has regressed mightily in June, losing both of his starts while posting an ugly 8.03 ERA.
Marcum was crowned in his last start, surrendering seven runs on 10 hits in four innings on the way to a 10-1 loss to the Rays. It was his shortest outing of the season.