Toronto (81-77) at Baltimore (67-91)
at 7:05 p.m. ET at Camden Yards

Today’s lineups:

BLUE JAYS
Russ Adams, 3B
Matt Stairs, 1B
Alex Rios, CF
Frank Thomas, DH
Aaron Hill, 2B
Adam Lind, LF
John-Ford Griffin, RF
Curtis Thigpen, C
John McDonald, SS

PITCHING: RHP Josh Banks (0-0, 4.50 ERA)

ORIOLES
Brian Roberts, 2B
Tike Redman, CF
Nick Markakis, RF
Miguel Tejada, DH
Aubrey Huff, 1B
Melvin Mora, 3B
Jay Payton, LF
Paul Bako, C
Luis Hernandez, SS

PITCHING: RHP Jeremy Guthrie (7-5, 3.65 ERA)

NOTES: CoachGate continues here at Camden Yards. Third-base coach Brian Butterfield acknowledged that he has been asked to be the new bench coach, replacing Ernie Whitt, in 2008. Whitt declined comment about the coaching situation until it’s officially announced by the club, but he did want it made known that he is not responsible for the two lineup card gaffes that occurred this season. It’s not sure what role Whitt may hold with the Jays next season — possibly that of first-base coach. Current first-base coach Marty Peavy is rumored to be replacing Butterfield at third base, but Peavy also declined comment. GM J.P. Ricciardi is expected to make an announcement on Saturday in Toronto.

BREAKING EVEN…Toronto needs just one win over its final four games to finish the season above .500.

A DAY AT THE RACES:

ALREADY IN:
Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland

STILL UNDECIDED:

AL EAST
entering Thursday
1. Boston 94-64 (–)
2. New York 91-67 (3)

AL BEST RECORD
entering Thursday
1. Boston 94-64 (–)
2. Cleveland 93-65 (1)
3. Los Angeles 92-67 (2.5)
4. New York 91-67 (3)

Check out today’s National Post, where John Lott writes that Blue Jays hitting coach Mickey Brantley has already been informed by manager John Gibbons that he will not have his contract renewed after the season. Can’t say this was a big surprise at all. The writing has been on the wall for some time. I wrote back in August that Brantley hadn’t received any reassurance from the Jays staff, and he told me back then that he kind of expected this news to come. While Lott got the scoop, the rest of us Toronto scribes will be following it up today here in Baltimore.

Toronto (78-77) at New York (90-65)
at 1:05 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium

Today’s lineups:

BLUE JAYS
Reed Johnson, LF
Matt Stairs, RF
Alex Rios, CF
Frank Thomas, DH
Aaron Hill, 2B
Gregg Zaun, C
Curtis Thigpen, 1B
Hector Luna, 3B
John McDonald, SS

PITCHING: RHP Jesse Litsch (6-9, 4.16 ERA)

YANKEES
Johnny Damon, DH
Derek Jeter, SS
Bobby Abreu, RF
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Hideki Matsui, LF
Jorge Posada, C
Robinson Cano, 2B
Doug Mientkiewicz, 1B
Melky Cabrera, CF

PITCHING: RHP Andy Pettitte (14-8, 3.79 ERA)

NOTES: A few hours before the game, the Jays announced that Litsch was starting instead of RHP A.J. Burnett, who had to take care of some family business. Burnett should be fine to start on Tuesday in Baltimore. … Toronto manager John Gibbons said that RHP Josh Banks, who is from Baltimore, could get the nod for the start on Thursday. RHP Shaun Marcum (torn right meniscus) was due to start, but he’s having surgery on Wednesday. … CF Vernon Wells (left shoulder) and 1B Lyle Overbay (right hand) are both scheduled to have surgery on Tuesday. … In the bullpen, Gibbons said LHPs Scott Downs, Brian Tallet, Joe Kennedy and RHP Brandon League weren’t available on Monday.

BREAKING EVEN…Toronto needs to post a 4-3 record over its final seven games to finish the season above .500.

A DAY AT THE RACES:

AL EAST
entering Monday
1. Boston 92-64 (–)
2. New York 90-65 (1.5)

AL WILD CARD
entering Monday
1. New York 90-65 (–)
2. Detroit 85-71 (5.5)

AL BEST RECORD
entering Monday
1. Cleveland 92-63 (–)
2. Boston 92-64 (0.5)
2. Los Angeles 92-64 (0.5)
4. New York 90-65 (1.5)

Blue Jays right-hander A.J. Burnett, who was scheduled to start today, had to leave to tend to a family emergency. Toronto rookie Jesse Litsch will is now taking the mound in the series finale against the Yankees.  Litsch will be on normal rest due to the off-day on Thursday. Burnett resides outside of Baltimore, so he is slated to rejoin the club on Tuesday, when he’ll make his second to last start of the season for the Jays.

Let’s play nine…

Toronto (78-76) at New York (89-65)
at 1:05 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium

Today’s lineups:

BLUE JAYS
Reed Johnson, RF
Russ Adams, 3B
Alex Rios, CF
Matt Stairs, DH
Aaron Hill, 2B
Gregg Zaun, C
Adam Lind, LF
Curtis Thigpen, 1B
John McDonald, SS

PITCHING: RHP Dustin McGowan (11-9, 3.84 ERA)

YANKEES
Johnny Damon, LF
Derek Jeter, SS
Bobby Abreu, RF
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Hideki Matsui, DH
Robinson Cano, 2B
Melky Cabrera, CF
Doug Mientkiewicz, 1B
Jose Molina, C

PITCHING: RHP Mike Mussina (10-10, 5.01 ERA)

NOTES: Shaun Marcum is done for the season. He suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee and is having surgery on Wednesday or Thursday. The recovery time is roughly four to six weeks before Marcum can begin his offseason training. That puts a sour end to a stellar season for the Jays starter. … DH Frank Thomas (right knee) was held out of the lineup as a precaution, but he said he should be fine to go on Monday. … Toronto manager John Gibbons said LHP Scott Downs (back strain) isn’t available today and is considered day-to-day going forward. … SS John McDonald was back in the lineup after missing four games with a lower abdominal strain. … RHP Casey Janssen wasn’t available out of the bullpen on Saturday due to a sore right shoulder, but he’s fine for Sunday, if needed.

BREAKING EVEN…Toronto needs to post a 4-4 record over its final eight games to finish the season above .500.

A DAY AT THE RACES:

AL EAST
entering Sunday
1. Boston 92-63 (–)
2. New York 89-65 (2.5)

AL WILD CARD
entering Sunday
1. New York 89-65 (–)
2. Detroit 84-71 (5.5)

AL BEST RECORD
entering Sunday
1. Boston 92-63 (–)
2. Cleveland 91-63 (0.5)
3. Los Angeles 91-64 (1)
4. New York 89-65 (2.5)

Blue Jays starter Shaun Marcum exited Saturday’s contest in New York after three innings due to a sore right knee. It wasn’t clear when the young pitcher hurt himself, but he appeared to come up lame somewhat after a rundown between third base and home plate in the second inning.

Toronto already pondered pushing Marcum’s latest start back because he’s been feeling some fatigue lately. So, if the knee injury is in any way a concern, this may have been Marcum’s final outing of 2007. If it was, he wrapped up quite the campaign for the Jays, going 11-4 with a 3.91 ERA as a starter.

Hmmmm…Frank Thomas just came out of the game after singling in the fifth inning. No info on what he may or may not have done. Newbie John-Ford Griffin entered as a pinch runner. That’s usually saved for later on, so Thomas may have hurt himself running. Jays just announced Thomas also left with a sore right knee.

In the seventh now, and Scott Downs just left a half-inning ago. This is getting redundant and a tad ridiculous. UPDATE: Jays just announced that Downs left with a strained back.

I’ll update with more information after the game.

So, I walk off the elevator and step into the tunnel here at The Stadium this morning and a line of Blue Jays were walking in at the same time. As we all made our way to the clubhouse, Aaron Hill calls out, "Jordan…" and I turn to see an obviously tired second baseman dragging his feet and practically sleepwalking his way to work "…why are you here soo early?" I replied with a simple, "I don’t know." Now, I’m regretting my early arrival to get some extra work done even more, considering there’s a tarp on the diamond and God is sending a heavy misting rain down on the Bronx. Anyway, off to the pregame…

————————————————————————————————-

Toronto (78-75) at New York (88-65)
at 1:05 p.m. ET (weather premitting) at Yankee Stadium

Today’s lineups:

BLUE JAYS
Reed Johnson, RF
Matt Stairs, 1B
Alex Rios, CF
Frank Thomas, DH
Aaron Hill, 2B
Russ Adams, 3B
Adam Lind, LF
Curtis Thigpen, C
Ray Olmedo, SS

PITCHING: RHP Shaun Marcum (12-6, 4.15 ERA)

YANKEES
Melky Cabrera, CF
Derek Jeter, SS
Bobby Abreu, RF
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Hideki Matsui, LF
Jorge Posada, C
Jason Giambi, DH
Robinson Cano, 2B
Doug Mientkiewicz, 1B

PITCHING: RHP Phil Hughes (4-3, 4.75 ERA)

NOTES: Toronto purchased the contract of OF John-Ford Griffin on Saturday to add some more outfield depth with CF Vernon Wells out. Wells (left shoulder) was placed on the 60-day DL to clear room for JFG on the 40-man roster. … SS John McDonald missed his fourth game with what he is now describing as a lower abdominal strain, but he’s expected to be back in the lineup on Sunday. … 1B Lyle Overbay said that he will have surgery to remove four pins from his hand on Tuesday in Baltimore. Previously, the club only indicated the operation would take place some time during the Jays’ series against the O’s. … C Sal Fasano is away from the team to be with his wife, who is expecting a baby boy any day now. Toronto manager John Gibbons wasn’t sure if Fasano would be returning to the team with only nine games left. … Thomas is going to be a part of TBS’s playoff TV team. He’ll be a part of a panel that also includes Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., and Thomas said he’s slated to provide analysis through the LCS.

BREAKING EVEN…Toronto needs to post a 4-5 record over its final nine games to finish the season above .500.

A DAY AT THE RACES:

AL EAST
entering Saturday
1. Boston 91-63 (–)
2. New York 88-65 (2.5)

AL WILD CARD
entering Saturday
1. New York 88-65 (–)
2. Detroit 84-70 (4.5)

AL BEST RECORD
entering Saturday
1. Cleveland 91-62 (–)
2. Los Angeles 91-63 (0.5)
2. Boston 91-63 (0.5)
4. New York 88-65 (3)