Boston @ Toronto preview
Rogers Centre
Last Meeting ( Jul 10, 2010 ) Boston 5, Toronto 9
Jose Bautista doesn't know why he wasn't asked to take part in the All-Star Home Run Derby.
It probably doesn't bother him all that much, since he has already turned the regular season into his own personal long ball parade.
Bautista looks to reach the 25-homer plateau for the season as the Toronto Blue Jays entertain the Boston Red Sox in the finale of their three-game series at the Rogers Centre on Sunday.
It's the final game for both teams before they embark on a three-day All-Star break.
Bautista is one of three Toronto players who won't be resting during the break. He'll join outfielder Vernon Wells and catcher John Buck at the festivities in Anaheim, Calif., suiting up for the American League in what will be his first All-Star Game appearance.
Despite leading the majors in home runs with 24, Bautista won't be part of Monday's Home Run Derby at Angels Stadium. Wells, Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, New York Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher and Detroit Tigers sensation Miguel Cabrera will represent the AL, with Bautista on the outside looking in.
While some are surprised and even bothered by the omission - Ortiz himself said it was a joke that Bautista wasn't included - the veteran third baseman will gladly take a few more regular-season bombs over a couple dozen meaningless homers in California.
Bautista belted his third homer in four games Saturday as the Jays evened the three-game set with a 9-5 victory. Alex Gonzalez and Adam Lind also had home runs for Toronto, which has put together seven straight multi-homer games, one short of the franchise record. They continue to lead the majors with 135 long balls.
The Jays turn to struggling right-hander Jesse Litsch (0-3) in today’s rubber match. Litsch is still looking for his first win since the end of the 2008 season after missing most of 2009 with a major arm injury.
He wasn't sharp his last time out, surrendering five runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings as the Jays dropped a 7-6 decision to the Minnesota Twins.
Litsch has had Boston's number during his brief career, owning a 4-1 mark all-time with a 3.82 ERA over 33 innings. Their last encounter came Sept. 13, 2008, when he allowed three runs over 5 1/3 innings but earned a no-decision as the Red Sox downed the Jays 7-5.
Boston counters with erratic right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka (5-3). The 29-year-old Japanese hurler is 0-1 over his last three starts while failing to reach the seventh inning in any of them. He was given a no-decision last time out, surrendering five runs over five innings in a 6-5 loss to Tampa.
Matsuzaka tamed the Jays lineup exactly two months ago, scattering three hits over seven strong innings. He added nine strikeouts as Boston cruised to a 6-1 win.
Matsuzaka enjoys facing Toronto, as he boasts a 5-1 career record with a 3.51 ERA in eight starts against his divisional rival.