Toronto @ Atlanta preview
Turner Field
Last Meeting ( Mar 24, 2011 ) Atlanta 5, Toronto 3
THE STORY: The Toronto Blue Jays look to atone for a miserable showing in their last visit to Atlanta as the take on the host Braves on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series. The teams last met in 2009, when Atlanta outscored Toronto 15-5 on the way to a three-game sweep.
TV: Rogers Sportsnet (Toronto), Fox Sports South (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Ricky Romero (6-6, 3.01 ERA) vs. Braves RH Tim Hudson (5-6, 4.08 ERA)
Romero has fared well in interleague play, posting a 3-1 record with a 2.03 ERA in six career starts against the National League. He comes in with plenty of momentum following eight innings of three-hit, 12-strikeout ball in a 4-1 win over Baltimore five days ago. The 26-year-old has allowed fewer than three runs in five of his last seven starts.
Hudson is no stranger to the Blue Jays, who remember him from his long tenure with the Oakland Athletics. The 35-year-old is 10-3 lifetime against Toronto with a 3.00 ERA over 105 innings. The current Blue Jays roster is a collective 9-for-41 (.220) against Hudson with zero home runs and just one RBI.
ABOUT THE BLUE JAYS (36-36): Any questions about the Jays' immediate future at shortstop were likely answered Sunday with the signing of Yunel Escobar to a two-year, $10 million contract. The contract includes team options for 2014 and 2015, a move that gives the Jays flexibility as they wait to see whether prospect Adeiny Hechevarria can claim the starting shortstop role. Escobar fell out of favor with the Braves last season and was dealt to the Blue Jays on July 14. He has been one of the better-hitting shortstops in the AL so far in 2011, hitting .280 with eight home runs and 26 RBIs in 257 at-bats.
ABOUT THE BRAVES (40-33): Atlanta has never faced Romero before, but given the club's performance against lefthanded pitching so far this season, the Braves may be in trouble. Atlanta ranks last in the majors with a .223 average against lefties, a major contributor to the team's collective .238 average for the season. Veteran slugger Chipper Jones has fared best against southpaws this season, hitting. 321 with two homers and 15 RBIs in 78 at-bats. But with Jones missing the entire weekend series against the Texas Rangers with an adductor strain, Romero might only run into him in a pinch-hitting role - if at all.
FINAL PITCH: Hudson has a career record of 170-93 but hasn't performed well in interleague play, going just 12-16 with a 4.21 ERA in 39 starts all-time.