***Toronto@Minnesota***, 4/17..In theory...

[jakazz30]

If it happens.....here's the lineups:

Toronto

1. Eric Sogard (L) 2B
2. Freddy Galvis (S) SS
3. Randal Grichuk (R) CF
4. Justin Smoak (S) 1B
5. T. Hernandez (R) LF
6. Rowdy Tellez (L) DH
7. Brandon Drury (R) 3B
8. Billy McKinney (L) RF
9. Luke Maile (R) C

Minnesota

1.Max Kepler (L) RF
2. Jorge Polanco (S) SS
3. Nelson Cruz (R) DH
4. Eddie Rosario (L) LF
5. C.J. Cron (R) 1B
6. M. Gonzalez (S) 3B
7. J. Schoop (R) 2B
8. Jason Castro (L) C
9. Byron Buxton (R) CF

[jakazz30]

Preview

(This time courtesy of the Chicago Sun-Times)

Eric Sogard enjoyed a successful debut with Toronto and hopes to keep proving he belongs on the big stage when the Blue Jays continue their four-game series against the host Minnesota Twins on Wednesday. Sogard was called up from Triple-A Buffalo to replace the struggling Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (.175 average in 40 at-bats) and went 3-for-5 with two runs scored batting leadoff and playing third base in Toronto's 6-5 victory Tuesday.

“It’s been something that I’ve dealt with my whole career, just coming in and showing them and having to make the team,” Sogard, a career .239 hitter who previously played with Oakland and Milwaukee, told reporters in spring training. The Blue Jays' Teoscar Hernandez continues to work his way out of an early season slump with the go-ahead two-run single Tuesday and is 4-for-7 with a home run and five RBIs in the series. Minnesota's Marwin Gonzalez was given Monday off after starting the campaign 5-for-34 with nine strikeouts and responded by going 2-for-4 with a solo home run Tuesday. The Twins' Jake Odorizzi takes the ball Wednesday after carrying a no-hitter into the fifth inning of his last start and opposes Trent Thornton, who was roughed up in his third outing after starting his career with two strong turns.

TV: 6:40 p.m. CT, FS North

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Trent Thornton (0-1, 4.61 ERA) vs. Twins RH Jake Odorizzi (0-2, 6.35)

Thornton allowed five runs and eight hits (three homers) in three innings of an 11-7 loss to Tampa Bay on Friday. The 25-year-old North Carolina native yielded a total of two runs, five hits and two walks while striking out 15 over 10 2/3 frames in earning no-decisions in his first two outings. "I've just got to prove to the front office and my teammates and coaches that I belong here," Thornton told reporters. "I've worked hard and I do what needs to be done. Ultimately if I pitch well, I kind of have to make (the Jays) make a decision. I just want to help the team win in any way possible. If I can continue to go out there and prove that, I think I should be all right."

Odorizzi permitted three runs, one hit and walked four in 4 2/3 innings of a 9-6 loss to the Mets in New York on April 10. Odorizzi struggled with his command for the second straight game after allowing five runs (four earned), two hits and three walks in two-thirds of an inning in a 10-4 setback at Philadelphia on April 4. Toronto's Justin Smoak is 2-for-21 with a double and a home run against Odorizzi, who is 5-3 with a 3.21 ERA in 15 games versus the Blue Jays.

WALK-OFFS

1. Toronto has scored 38 runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings this season and 29 during the first six frames.

2. Minnesota RHP Tyler Duffey pitched two scoreless innings in his season debut Tuesday after he was recalled from Triple-A Rochester.

3. The Blue Jays (7-11), who have won three of their last four games, are in position to win their first series of the season after going 0-3-2 in the first five.

PREDICTION: Twins 3, Blue Jays 2

[jakazz30]

Who is this guy with Laudner?

[Miley Cyrus]

1st pitch scheduled for 7:30. 4 dollar dogs housed.

[weimy froob]

1st pitch scheduled for 7:30. 4 dollar dogs housed.

just beat me to it.

[jakazz30]

1st pitch scheduled for 7:30. 4 dollar dogs housed.

[Hornets]

I could probably head downtown and get some pretty good seats, wouldn't you type?

[JPM]

Glad I went last night.

[jakazz30]

Glad I went last night.

Any pictures of shoes to prove you went?

[Hornets]

Looks like a nice little mist still coming down! Glad I'm on my Barcalounger, heat is at 70, and pillows are propped just right!

[JPM]

how do you post a pic?

[Hornets]

Good start to our 1/2

[jakazz30]

how do you post a pic?

You've done it b4...

[jakazz30]

Cruz!!

[RubeTube]

Looks like a nice little mist still coming down! Glad I'm on my Barcalounger, heat is at 70, and pillows are propped just right!

Now you just need some CBD

[Hornets]

Looks like a nice little mist still coming down! Glad I'm on my Barcalounger, heat is at 70, and pillows are propped just right!

Now you just need some CBD

[A Kickass Offense]

The Twins should already have this game in the bag, but lead by just 2 runs.

Setting up nicely for another late inning implosion and loss.

[Hornets]

The Twins should already have this game in the bag, but lead by just 2 runs.

Setting up nicely for another late inning implosion and loss.

Yeah, you're right! Feels like we should be up 5-1.

[RubeTube]

Looks like a nice little mist still coming down! Glad I'm on my Barcalounger, heat is at 70, and pillows are propped just right!

Now you just need some CBD

I thought you may need the "Lift"

[ForCaleb]

Did Rocco say why Cruz didn’t play yesterday?

[A Kickass Offense]

Did Rocco say why Cruz didn’t play yesterday?

Since Sanchez is a right handed pitcher he said he wanted to load the lineup with lefty or switch hitters.

Pretty clever huh?

[ForCaleb]

Did Rocco say why Cruz didn’t play yesterday?

Since Sanchez is a right handed pitcher he said he wanted to load the lineup with lefty or switch hitters.

Pretty clever huh?

No, dumb. He’s our best hitter.

[A Kickass Offense]

The Twins should already have this game in the bag, but lead by just 2 runs.

Setting up nicely for another late inning implosion and loss.

Yeah, you're right! Feels like we should be up 5-1.

Yep.

Twins couldn't administer the kill shot even though this guy was begging them to and now he's in cruise control.

Twins might have one more run in them at best.

[A Kickass Offense]

Did Rocco say why Cruz didn’t play yesterday?

Since Sanchez is a right handed pitcher he said he wanted to load the lineup with lefty or switch hitters.

Pretty clever huh?

No, dumb. He’s our best hitter.

Yeah, I know that.

He must have thought he was being pretty clever though was my point.

Rocco is an idiot.

[A Kickass Offense]

Since the Twins are done scoring which inning do you think it will get away?

I'm thinking all the way until the 9th today for the moral victory in place of an actual victory.

[A Kickass Offense]

Another fail to administer the kill shot for the Twins.

The baseball God's have a way of making a team like the Twins pay for letting the other team hang around.

[Tommy_Hawk]

Odorizzi and Meija are going to fuck this game up, aren't they? Uggh

[A Kickass Offense]

Odorizzi and Meija are going to fuck this game up, aren't they? Uggh

If they don't someone else will.

Honorable mention to the offense for catching their limit and refusing to put this game in the bag.

[Ask Not]

Watching Ordorizzi pitch is like watching Mauer hit. Nothing exciting will happen - guaranteed.

[A Kickass Offense]

Is he really bring this guy into a high leverage situation after what happened 2 days ago?