NewsRzepczynski makes bid for Jays' fab five
Toronto (59-70) at Texas (72-58), 5:05 p.m. ET
By Drew Davison / Special to MLB.com
09/01/09 3:25 AM ET
ARLINGTON -- Going into the offseason, three of the five starters for next year's Toronto Blue Jays rotation are pretty much in place with right-hander Roy Halladay, left-hander Ricky Romero and right-hander Shaun Marcum penciled in. Rookie left-hander Marc Rzepczynski, meanwhile, is certainly making a strong case to join the front five. Rzepczynski is scheduled to start for the Blue Jays in Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Rangers. Left-hander Brian Tallet is scheduled to start Game 2. In his past three starts, Rzepczynski has gone 1-0 with a 1.96 ERA. He has lasted at least six innings in each game, allowing a combined four earned runs on 12 hits over 18 1/3 innings pitched. "For right now, I'm just going out there and worrying about what I can," Rzepczynski said. "For the spot the rest of this year or next year, I have no control over it. I'm just going to go out and worrying about doing the best I can." Rzepczynski would like to improve one thing the rest of the season, which is going deeper into games. Instead of only making it into the sixth, he would like to pitch into the eighth. "That's what I expect of myself," Rzepczynski said. "I want to give us a chance to win and go longer in games every time out. I know that isn't always the case, but I feel that would give my team a chance to win more." Pitching matchupGame 1
TOR: LHP Marc Rzepczynski (2-3, 3.58 ERA)
Rzepczynski fired six innings of two-run ball on Wednesday, striking out seven in a no-decision against the Rays at Rogers Centre. The rookie left-hander has tossed three consecutive quality starts, allowing just four earned runs over 18 1/3 frames during that span. He has never faced the Rangers.
Nippert is 2-2 with a 4.66 ERA in eight starts. He started against the Yankees on Thursday and lasted just 3 2/3 innings. He allowed just two runs despite giving up four hits and walking seven. He is 3-0 with a 1.76 ERA in five games, including two starts, at home. He is 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA in three career relief appearances against the Blue Jays, but hasn't faced them this season. Game 2
TEX: RHP Brandon McCarthy (5-2, 4.92)
McCarthy has been on the disabled list since June 8 with a stress fracture in his right shoulder blade. He pitched six shutout innings in his last medical rehab start, at Triple-A Oklahoma City, and has a 2.18 ERA in his past four rehab starts. McCarthy hasn't started a Major League game since June 4 against the Yankees. He is 2-2 with a 4.15 ERA in seven games, including four starts, against the Blue Jays in his career.
Tallet last started for the Blue Jays on Aug. 15, when the Rays tagged the veteran left-hander for five runs on 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings in a loss at Tropicana Field. The 31-year-old is 5-7 with a 5.17 ERA in 19 starts this season, while posting an 0-1 record and a 4.71 ERA in 12 appearances out of the Toronto bullpen. Lifetime against the Rangers, Tallet is 1-1 with a 1.23 ERA in 14 2/3 frames. Tidbits
The trip back to Texas never gets old for Blue Jays outfielder Vernon Wells. Wells, who graduated from nearby Arlington Bowie High School, still lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area during the off-season and has about nine ticket requests for each game. But Wells is looking forward to coming back even more this off-season, as he splurged for Cowboys season tickets at the new, billion dollar stadium known as "Jerry World." "We got tickets, and the Cowboys suckered me into them," Wells said. Asked if the Cowboys gave him a "hometown celebrity discount," Wells quipped: "Yeah right. That'd be nice, but ... no, no." Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.
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• Official game notes On television
• SNET On radio
• FAN 590 Up next
• Tuesday: Blue Jays (Brian Tallet, 5-8, 5.09) at Rangers (Brandon McCarthy, 5-2, 4.92), TBD ET
• Wednesday: Blue Jays (Scott Richmond, 6-7, 4.32) at Rangers (Tommy Hunter, 6-3, 2.95), 8:05 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Blue Jays (Ricky Romero, 11-6, 3.95) vs. Yankees (Sergio Mitre, 3-1, 5.65), 7:07 p.m. ET
Drew Davison is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
