News
Gaston hoping Wells stays hot at plate
Toronto (66-82) at Tampa Bay (76-73), 1:38 p.m. ET
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com
09/20/09 1:07 AM ET
ST. PETERSBURG -- Vernon Wells does not hear it from the fans on the road. Any boos directed at the Blue Jays center fielder seem to be reserved for Rogers Centre in Toronto, where the team's followers have made him the main target for voicing displeasure over the club's subpar season.Wells is quick to make light of the negative response he receives after every out at home, but there is no doubt that this has been a season that has worn on the face of the Blue Jays' offense. That is why manager Cito Gaston has enjoyed seeing Wells perform much better in the batter's box of late.
Wells is enjoying his best stretch in what has been an otherwise frustrating campaign, and Gaston believes ending the year with a strong finish can only help.
"It can't hurt at all," Gaston said. "Take that home for the winter and go home with a good feeling as opposed to a bad feeling. Go home with some confidence, as opposed to no confidence. It's pretty big. If he can keep it going until the season is over, he can take something positive home."
That would not only be great for Wells, but also for the Blue Jays, who will once again rely on the center fielder to lead their lineup in 2010 and beyond. Toronto signed Wells to a seven-year extension after his All-Star showing in 2006, and the center fielder has struggled with injuries and offensive issues in the years since.
Lately, though, Wells has resembled the star that the Blue Jays believe he can be.
Over his past 15 games, Wells has hit .431 with 22 hits in 51 at-bats. Wells had 22 hits in 101 at-bats in the previous 26 contests, during which he batted just .218. In the month of September, Wells has hit at a .349 clip and he has reached base in 25 of his past 48 plate appearances.
Wells had a season-best 11-game hitting streak end Saturday night, but over that run, he hit .500 (21-for-42) with four doubles, one home run, seven RBIs, eight runs scored and four walks. He has recorded multihit games in seven of his past eight starts and has raised his average to .265 from .249 over his past 15 games.
Blue Jays fans will be looking to see if Wells can continue this recent hot streak when the Jays return to Toronto on Monday. Most of Wells' success of late has come away from home, where he has hit .311 this season. In front of the Toronto faithful, the center fielder has managed only a .211 average.
Pitching matchup
TOR: RHP Roy Halladay (15-9, 3.03 ERA)
Halladay has gone 1-3 with a 3.50 ERA in five starts against the Rays this year.
Price is 6-3 with a 3.32 ERA in 10 appearances at Tropicana Field this season. Bird feed
Left-hander Jesse Carlson, who received a three-game suspension for his part in Tuesday's bench-clearing incidents in New York, is eligible to return to the Blue Jays' bullpen Sunday. ... Wells is two home runs shy of tying George Bell (188) for the most home runs in club history by a Toronto outfielder. ... Gaston indicated that left-handers Scott Downs (right hamstring) and Brian Tallet (right foot) are still considered day-to-day with injuries they suffered Wednesday. Tallet is tentatively scheduled to start Tuesday in Toronto, but it is unclear if he will be able to take the mound. ... Entering Saturday, shortstop Marco Scutaro ranked sixth in the Majors and third in the American League by reaching base via hit, walk or hit by pitch 255 times this season. ... On Saturday, Scutaro drew his 90th walk of the season. He joins Carlos Delgado, John Olerud and Fred McGriff as the only players in team history to record 90 or more walks in a season. Tickets
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• Monday: Blue Jays (David Purcey, 0-2, 6.32) vs. Orioles (Chris Tillman, 2-3, 4.50), 7:07 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Blue Jays (TBD) vs. Orioles (Mark Hendrickson, 5-5, 4.47), 7:07 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Blue Jays (Scott Richmond, 6-10, 5.31) vs. Orioles (Jeremy Guthrie, 10-15, 5.05), 7:07 p.m. ET
Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
