Konsolen Treiber » Houston Astros is important to the Blue Jays

TORONTO – There may come a time in the next few years when the Houston Astros are a good baseball team. That time, however, is not now and with apologies to the "Its Early" crowd, with whom we typically should all agree hardly removed from opening day, this three-game home set with the Houston Astros is important to the Blue Jays. Nobody is suggesting that, say, if Toronto gets swept its season is over. But a check of the math tells you it doesnt help. The Blue Jays, by virtue of their perch in the American League East, have the unenviable task of playing 76 of their 162 games against their four divisional opponents. They get the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles 19 times each, a veritable meat grinder that can chew up and spit out the hope for a successful season all by itself. Lets say, for the sake of argument, the Blue Jays go 38-38 against their own division. That leaves 86 games against non-divisional opponents. To get to 90 wins, which likely wont be enough to win the division and may or may not be enough to capture one of the two wild card spots, Toronto would have to go 52-34. So far, after splitting a four-game series in Tampa Bay and disappointingly dropping two of three at home to the Yankees, the Jays are 3-4 within the AL East. Houston marks the first non-divisional opponent and due to the make up of the schedule, this is the only time the Astros will visit Toronto all year. It doesnt matter whether its April, June, or the intensity filled months of August and September, Houstons only here once and when they visit the Jays need to make hay. More than anything, manager John Gibbons wants his club to better protect home soil. "Ive always said you cant bury yourself early," said Gibbons. "Especially in this division, its an uphill battle and its real tough to come back. Were trying to get off to a good start and with more games at home itd be nice to finish up good at home. Youve got to play good at home, its no secret. Hold your own on the road and play good baseball at home." JEKYLL AND HYDE ROTATION The biggest question facing the Blue Jays (3-4) heading into the season centred on the starting rotation. Could it hold up in the toughest division in baseball? In the wins, Dr. Jekyll rules the day. When Torontos lost, Mr. Hyde rears his ugly face. Heres a look at the numbers through the first seven games: In the three wins, no runs allowed in 20 2/3 innings pitched. April 1: Drew Hutchison, 5.1 innings pitched.April 2: Mark Buehrle, 8.2 IP.April 5: R.A. Dickey, 6.2 IP. In the four losses, the starts have allowed a staggering 20 earned runs in just 16 innings pitched (11.25 ERA, averaging four innings pitched per start): March 31: R.A. Dickey, 6 earned runs in 5 innings pitched.April 3: Brandon Morrow, 4 ER in 5 IP.April 4: Dustin McGowan, 4 ER in 2.2 IP.April 6: Drew Hutchison, 6 ER in 3.1 IP. ROTATION JUGGLING Mondays off day has afforded manager John Gibbons the opportunity to flip R.A. Dickey and Dustin McGowan, meaning Dickey will start Thursdays series finale against the Astros and McGowan will open a three-game set in Baltimore on Friday night. "Thatll split up Morrow and McGowan," said Gibbons. "The two guys were watching a little bit. Put Dickey in the middle and he can eat some innings, anyway." Dickey has repeatedly said he prefers pitching under a roof, although Gibbons denied the forecasted cool conditions outdoors in Baltimore factored in to the decision. REYES UPDATE Jose Reyes, eligible to come off the disabled list from a strained left hamstring on April 16, ran the treadmill and took ground balls during batting practice on Tuesday afternoon. "Ill know better when I start running and see how Im feeling," said Reyes. "For now, Ill just take it day by day and see what happens." Reyes has been hitting to maintain his batting stroke but still has yet to run at full speed. When Reyes is ready to play, he expects to appear in at least a couple of minor league rehab games before returning to the Blue Jays. JANSSEN UPDATE Casey Janssen, out with an abdominal/back strain, doesnt think hell be ready to come off the disabled list when hes eligible on Sunday. "Probably not," said Janssen. "I dont know the exact date but Ive got to get on a rehab somewhere; hopefully shortly thereafter." Janssen expects only to need one or two minor league rehab games before hes back with the Blue Jays. If he continues to progress, its not unreasonable to expect Janssen to return mid-to-late next week. Utah Jazz Jerseys . With the Pirates in the thick of the race in the NL Central, the timing couldnt be better. Liriano struck out a season-high 11 in seven innings to win consecutive starts for the first time this season and Pittsburgh beat the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Tuesday night. Jeff Hornacek Jersey . Atletico Madrid made it three wins from three thanks to a double from in-form striker Diego Costa in a 3-0 victory at Austria Vienna, leaving the Spanish side on the brink of the last 16 already to continue its brilliant start to the season. http://www.jazzauthentic.com/kids-donovan-mitchell-jazz-jersey/ . Obasi chested the ball past one defender, prodded it past another and then rounded the keeper before scoring from a tight angle in the 16th minute. Seconds after the restart, Obasi set up Klaas Jan Huntelaar for the Dutchmans 11th goal from 13 games this season. Derrick Favors Jersey . The future hall of famers stole the show at the Bell Centre on Tuesday night, with Jagr moving into seventh place in all-time goal scoring and Brodeur stopping 29 shots as the Devils downed the Montreal Canadiens 4-1. Jonas Jerebko Jersey . Forsman closed with a 3-under 69 in windy conditions Sunday for his third Champions Tour title. He beat Jay Don Blake by two shots.BUFFALO - The Chicago Blackhawks recently capped a three-game homestand with an emphatic win, and the defending Stanley Cup champions will try to keep rolling when they visit the Buffalo Sabres today. You can see all the action on TSN2 beginning at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. Chicago won two of three games during its stay at the United Center. The club began the homestand with a 5-1 win over Pittsburgh on March 1 and fell to Colorado on Tuesday before posting another blowout win in Thursdays tilt against Columbus. The Blackhawks slammed the visiting Blue Jackets by a 6-1 score. Jonathan Toews and Andrew Shaw both tallied twice to lead the way in the rout as Chicago picked up its 12th straight win over Columbus. Bryan Bickell and Brandon Bollig also hit the back of the net for the Blackhawks. Brent Seabrook and Marcus Kruger each collected two assists, while Corey Crawford stopped 22 shots. Chicago enters Sunday four points behind St. Louis for first place in the Central Division standings and the Blackhawks are just one point in front of Colorado for the last of the divisions three automatic playoff bids. The Blues play in Minnesota on Sunday while the Avalanche are idle. The Blackhawks are playing two straight on the road beginning with Sundays test. Chicago is 17-8-7 as the guest this season and will complete its brief swing with an important divisional tilt Wednesday against Colorado. Chicago recorded a 2-1 win over a visiting Sabres club back on Oct. 12. Buffalo native Patrick Kane scored the game-winner in that contest and he has compiled three goals and three assists in seven career games against his hometown team..dddddddddddd The Blackhawks have won four straight and five of the last six meetings in this series. Buffalo is last in the NHL with only 46 points on the season, but the club has won its last three home games and is 12-17-5 as the host heading into Sundays game at First Niagara Center. The Sabres went 1-2-0 on a recent three-game road trip and dropped the finale of that swing Friday against the Florida Panthers. Buffalo was stymied by Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo, who stopped all 25 shots in a 2-0 win for Florida. Although Buffalos offense couldnt get anything going, newly acquired goaltender Michal Neuvirth made a splash in his debut with 42 saves for the Sabres. Neuvirth was acquired at the trade deadline from the Washington Capitals. "I was very impressed," Sabres head coach Ted Nolan said of Neuvirth. "He was very calm. His rebound control was solid. He had great positioning all night." The Sabres are playing their next two games on home ice and will cap their brief stay in Western New York in Tuesdays tilt against Nashville. Buffalo forwards Zemgus Girgensons, Chris Stewart and Torrey Mitchell all missed Fridays game due to lower-body injuries and are questionable for tonights game. All three players were injured in Thursdays game against Tampa. Both Mitchell and Stewart were recently acquired in trades by the Sabres. Cory Conacher, another player picked up recently by Buffalo, has yet to play with the Sabres after being claimed off waivers from Ottawa. Conacher is dealing with immigration issues, but that issue could be settled in time for him to play Sunday for the Sabres. 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