NewsBlue Jays to battle less familiar faces
Toronto (61-75) vs. Minnesota (68-68), 1:07 p.m. ET
By Larry Millson / Special to MLB.com
09/06/09 6:31 PM ET
TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays take another break from the American League East this week.After a steady diet of the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays -- with series with the Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers tossed in -- they are home for four games against the Minnesota Twins before visiting the Detroit Tigers for four games.
Not that it means the schedule gets any easier. The Tigers lead the AL Central, and the Twins are second.
"We have eight days [away from the East], but we're playing some teams that are battling each other, too," manager Cito Gaston said. "The Twins will run you to death; [they're a] good fundamental team. They're the best team on scoring on contact from third base. They score every time on that."
While the Blue Jays have been battered by AL East teams, owning a 19-39 record against division opponents following Sunday's win against the Yankees, they have a winning record against the AL Central.
The Blue Jays are 3-1 against both the Twins and the Tigers this season, but both those series were in April when Toronto was off to a surprisingly strong start. The Blue Jays are 17-29 since the All-Star break.
When playing teams like the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays so frequently, a familiarity is fostered. But it will be a little different facing teams that they have not seen in months.
Gaston feels that, in the information age, familiarity isn't a big problem in preparing for a series.
"You have so much advance scouting and stuff these days, you know what's going on," Gaston said. "And most of the times, guys hit the ball to the same place. The only thing is if you've got some hitters who haven't seen certain pitchers. But pretty much, in a starting rotation, everybody knows them. We probably know Detroit better than the Minnesota starters. That's the only difference."
In the clubhouse, that day's opposing starter is shown in action on television sets.
"You can sit there and watch them pitch [against] whoever they were pitching against," Gaston said. "But to me, you should always watch the one where he pitches against you. Because they pitch people differently. We do have those tapes, too.
"When you play against people long enough, you know what they're going to do. You know what's their strong side and the weak side and where you can go."
With the Twins, Gaston said, "They're going to play speed on you. They will come in, and they will run. Speed causes people a lot of trouble. That whole team runs pretty good."
And then there are hitters like Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau.
"Those two guys can hit," Gaston said. "That's what keeps that team going."
Pitching matchupTOR: RHP Scott Richmond (6-8, 4.53 ERA)
It's been a tough stretch for Richmond, as he's allowed a home run in each of his past three starts. He allowed two to the Rangers in his most recent start on Wednesday, lasting five-plus innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts and four walks. Toronto, though, is committed to letting Richmond finish the season in the starting rotation and hopes he can turn things around against the Twins. In one career start against Minnesota, Richmond went 6 1/3 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits with three strikeouts. MIN: RHP Jeff Manship (0-0, 3.75 ERA)
Manship made his first Major League start on Tuesday against the White Sox, lasting five innings and allowing just one run -- a solo home run by Alexei Ramirez -- on four Chicago hits. He walked two and struck out two, and he did not factor into the decision. Prior to his starting debut, Manship had made five relief appearances for Minnesota, allowing four runs in seven innings. Hell be facing Toronto for the first time. Tidbits
Randy Ruiz had his first start at first base in Sunday's series finale against the New York Yankees. The 31-year-old, who was with Triple-A Las Vegas for most of the season before being called up on Aug. 11, had six home runs in his first 19 games with Toronto entering Sunday. Ruiz departed Sunday's game in the fifth after being hit in the face by a Josh Towers pitch. Gaston decided to use Ruiz at first base because Kevin Millar has been struggling. Ruiz's first 19 starts were as designated hitter. ... First baseman Lyle Overbay is still out with a finger injury, but should return early in the series against the Twins. ... Marco Scutaro's two runs scored on Sunday gave him the club record for a season for a shortstop. He entered Sunday tied with Tony Fernandez, who scored 91 runs in 1986. Tickets
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• Tuesday: Blue Jays (Ricky Romero, 11-7, 4.15) vs. Twins (Brian Duensing, 2-1, 3.81), 7:07 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Blue Jays (TBD) vs. Twins (Carl Pavano, 11-11, 5.09), 7:07 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Blue Jays (Roy Halladay, 14-8, 2.98) vs. Twins (Scott Baker, 13-7, 4.34), 12:37 p.m. ET
Larry Millson is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
