Blue Jays at Athletics
The Toronto Blue Jays couldn't have asked for a better start to their 10-game road trip, getting consecutive shutouts to kick off their series against the Los Angeles Angels. Back-to-back losses stalled the momentum of the Blue Jays, who will head up the California coast for a two-game set against the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night. Unbeaten ace Ricky Romero will pitch the opener for Toronto. The left-hander has dominated the Athletics in his career and threw a complete-game shutout against them in his last visit to Oakland.
The Athletics return home on the heels of a 5-4 road trip that was capped by back-to-back wins at Tampa Bay, which had lost only once at home prior to the two defeats on the weekend. After dropping three straight in which they gave up 26 runs, the Athletics rebounded by taking four of their last five to move over .500 for only the second time this season.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, RSN, CSCA
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Ricky Romero (4-0, 3.64 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Brandon McCarthy (2-3, 2.96 ERA)
Romero is coming off his worse outing, giving up five runs, but he worked eight innings for the third time in six starts in an 11-5 win over Texas. The 27-year-old southpaw has owned the Athletics, going 4-0 with a 1.49 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in five career starts against them. He has held Oakland to a collective .180 batting average against.
After going winless in his first five starts, McCarthy has won his last two with a pair of solid performances on the road trip. He limited Baltimore to two runs on five hits in seven innings and gave up one run in 6 2/3 innings last time out in Boston. He is 3-2 in nine career appearances (six starts) agaisnt the Blue Jays.
WALK-OFFS
1. Toronto's Jose Bautista, who swatted 97 homers in the past two seasons, is batting .183 despite a three-game hitting streak.
2. Oakland 2B Jemile Weeks sat out the series finale against the Rays with tightness in his groin. He was 0-for-10 in the first two games.
3. McCarthy is winless in his last four home starts dating to last season.