Next Up: the Toronto Blue Jays

Pitching tonight against Wakefield is Shaun Marcum. He's got only two full years in the majors and he's spent that time bouncing between the 'pen and the starting rotation. In May of last year, though, they moved him to the starting rotation and there he stuck. He pitched 159 innings and gave up 149 hits. He struck out 122 of the batters he faced (roughly 18.5%) and he walked only 49 batters (7.4%). He gave up 149 hits, resulting in 76 runs. His battery of pitches includes a change-up, a curve ball, a low nineties fast ball, and a good slider. Lefties have a better average against him (it might be David Ortiz' night.) He's got decent control but starts to fall apart as the pitch count gets higher.

On Saturday, Clay Buchholz is scheduled to face Jesse Litsch. Litsch is a baby pitcher. He pitched 111 innings in 20 games last year. He gave up 116 hits (or just under 6 per game on average.) He allowed 56 runs (or just under 3 per game.) He gave up 14 home runs ( or just about 3 for every 4 games he started.) He walked 36 batters (or just under 2 per game) and he struck out 50 (2.5 batters per game.) He has a sinking fast ball that's pretty good and that's about it. He is a good defensive player, though.

On Sunday, Beckett is scheduled to face Roy Halladay. Halladay is a very good pitcher with a reputation for being on the fragile side. He has excellent command of the strike zone. He works quickly and induces a lot of ground outs (rather than strike outs.) He throws both a four seam and a two seam fast ball, and has a very good knuckle curve. He gave up just 15 home runs last year (about 1 every other start.) He walked only 48 batters he faced last year (about 1.5 per game.) He struck out 139 batters last year (about 4.5 per game.) He allowed 232 hits (about 7.5 per game) but only 93 of them turned into earned runs (3 per game.)

Their best hitters are probably Shannon Stewart, Vernon Wells, and Frank Thomas. Stewart is not a particularly patient hitter. He strikes out more often than he walks. He's not a real power guy, with only 12 home runs last season, but he is quite speedy. Vernon Wells is a power guy, though the home runs were down last year. He tends to hit line drives and knock in a good number of runs. Frank Thomas started out as a short stop but as age has caught up with him lives in the role of designated hitter. He can't hit lefties or finesse pitchers. He can't run. But last year he hit 26 home runs and knocked in 95 runs. Both his OBP and SLG were above league average.

Alex Rios could very well prove to a threat offensively, as well. He's a very streaky hitter and right now is on a hot streak.

The Blue Jays are a tough opponent. They have good pitching (especially in Halladay and Burnett), backed up by good hitting.