Game #40: Orioles at Blue Jays pregame
Baltimore (18-22) at Toronto (17-22)
at 7:07 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre
Today’s lineups:
ORIOLES
Brian Roberts, 2B
Nick Markakis, RF
Miguel Tejada, SS
Aubrey Huff, DH
Melvin Mora, 3B
Jay Gibbons, LF
Kevin Millar, 1B
Corey Patterson, CF
Paul Bako, C
PITCHING: LHP Brian Burres
BLUE JAYS
Alex Rios, RF
Vernon Wells, CF
Troy Glaus, 3B
Frank Thomas, DH
Aaron Hill, 2B
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Ryan Roberts, LF
Jason Phillips, C
John McDonald, SS
PITCHING: RHP A.J. Burnett
NOTES: RHP Jesse Litsch will remain in the rotation and is scheduled to make his second career start on Sunday in Philadelphia. For now, RHP Tomo Ohka will move into the bullpen. Toronto won’t need a fifth starter again until May 26, when Ohka may or may not move back into the rotation. … INF Jason Smith was claimed off waivers by the Diamondbacks. … Roberts received his first start in left field on Wednesday. Toronto manager John Gibbons said Roberts will occasionally spell left fielder Adam Lind versus left-handed starters. … Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi said injured LF Reed Johnson is on schedule to potentially return to Toronto by mid-June. … Also, Ricciardi said RHP Brandon League has shown signs of improvement. His velocity is currently in the low 90s and he pitched in an extended spring game this week. He’s scheduled to throw again on Friday. … C Gregg Zaun (broken right thumb) will travel with the Jays to Philly and Baltimore.
Major League Bastian 
Solid outing by Burnett, though he did look a bit off in the second inning. Hopefully he is FINALLY becoming the guy that everyone thinks he could be.
Nice to hear that League is showing improvement.
I can’t wait ’till Johnson gets back in the lineup. I love the way he plays the game and can definitaly be a spark plug to the jays’ offense.
Too bad Lind is disapointing so far…
As for the jays… everybody was bashing them on the G&M blog… while also predicting the demise of the franchise come season end…
My prediction is that by midpoint the jays will be a .500 team… with their ace back… Chacin back (say what you want, but the guy consistantly wins ball games) and the back end of the rotation a little bit more refined… of course johnson and zaun will be back, VW and Thomas will probably settle in at the plate… let’s hope glaus keeps healthy!
Is it just me or Does it seem Burnett is more unhittable then the Great Doc himself. Burnett hasn’t been near as consistent but when he is on, it’s a great pitching performance.
Martin,
Burnett has absolutely nasty stuff… he is probably less hittable than doc because doc tends to pitch for contact (hence burnett has a no-no in his short career)
Burnett’s main problem was mostly injuries… they always slowed him down. He also has the occasional tendency to be inconsistant… and also just plain unlucky (like in his outing against texas where despite of an excellent performance he got the loss)
Regardless of how you compare AJ to Doc, it doesnt really matter. The only thing I care about is if he keeps it up. I would love to see Doc come back and pitch at his level and see AJ doing what hes done the past couple of starts. I also feel that Towers has been cheated this year…he hasnt been too bad, I think he deserves the rotation spot more than Ohka at this point. I say they should give him another shot, I am sure he would do well.
Im with you on Towers give him another shot He is not a good bulpen pitcher He needs to start For the first time AJ has got my vote I was in awe the whole game Doc is always going to be #1 in TO. Marcum was a big suprise a nice one Mabey this is what Dustin needs to see the other young pitchers put up good numbers he may just pull up his socks I hope Litsch can keep it up We have to remember he came up from AA.I hope your back is better Jordan
“Is it just me or Does it seem Burnett is more unhittable then the Great Doc himself. Burnett hasn’t been near as consistent but when he is on, it’s a great pitching performance.”
No, it’s definitely true. Burnett still goes for the strikeout approach and Doc for contact, which seems to work for both of them just fine.
Jordan, I’m heading down to Cooperstown for the Hall of Fame Game on Monday. I know there won’t be many Orioles starters in the game, but am wondering if you know how many Jays will be playing? In a dream world, Doc would make a rehab start, but it seems a little too soon. Any thoughts? And even if its mostly Chiefs and F-Cats, would the majority of the team still make the trip?
I wonder what is going to happen when all our pitching gets healthy. Personally I would love too see the young guys stay. Since its going to be extremely tough to make the playoffs, why not give some young guys experience for next year. When they signed Zambrano, Thompson and Ohka it was because the club had a win now attitude and wanted some vetern guys. But with the rash of injuries, they should retool their approach for the rest of the year, give their young arms some experience. They couldnt do much worse than Zambrano’s 10+ era. I would love too see a rotation comprised of Halladay, Burnett, Chacin, McGowan and Marcum. Litsch being only 22 could probably benifit from finishing the year at AAA. Plus I find it highly unlikly he will have a repeat preformance of his debut. Although it would definatly be a pleasant suprise