Bluebird Banter Sep 12, 2021
Game #143 Preview: Matz vs Lowther
Photo by Greg Fiume/ Blue Jays (79-63) vs Orioles (46-96) After a bit of a wild series so far, the Blue Jays and Orioles will finish their four game series in Baltimore this afternoon. The game gets underway shortly, with a 1:05 ET start. Blue Jays’ Starter Steven Matz will go for the Jays’ looking to continue his string of strong starts that he has had so far. He has allowed 2 runs or fewer in 7 straight starts now, improving his season numbers to an 11-7 record with a 3.70 ERA. His FIP is right there as well, coming in at 3.66, as Matz is putting up some of the...
Bluebird Banter Sep 7, 2021
Kirk homers twice, Semien once, Jays win
Photo by Rich Schultz/ Blue Jays 5 Yankees 1 Six wins in a row. Life is good. Steven Matz had another terrific start. 6 innings, 7 hits, 1 earned, 0 walks, and 6 strikeouts. I don’t think Pete Walker gets enough credit for how few walks are starters are giving up. How many 0 or 1 walk games have we had out of our starters lately? Matz didn’t give up an extra-base hit, though there were some fly-outs to the track. And our bullpen was great: Joakim Soria did give up a single in his inning but followed that up with a tailor-made double-play ball. 12 pitch inning....
Pinstripe Alley Sep 7, 2021
NYY vs. TOR: Gerrit Cole vs. Steven Matz
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports The Yankees send their top gun to the mound tonight to cool off the red hot Blue Jays. The Yankees enter tonight’s action eight games in the loss column behind Tampa Bay in the AL East. For some perspective, Cleveland has the ninth-best record in the AL and they’re only eight games behind the Yankees in the loss column, so let’s table all discussions about the division until … well, next season, and focus on the Wild Card race. The onus would be on the Rays to absolutely collapse for there to be any hope, and it’s honestly so...
Bluebird Banter Sep 7, 2021
Game #137 Preview: Matz vs Cole
Photo by Dustin Satloff/ Blue Jays (74-62) vs Yankees (78-59) After a great opening salvo in yesterday’s game, the Blue Jays will continue their important four game series in New York taking on the Yankees. Today’s game gets underway at 7:05 ET. Blue Jays’ Starter Steven Matz gets the start for the Jays, waking up to find that he has the high point in ERA among starters once again. His 3.80 mark is highest of the five, but certainly nothing to be ashamed of - the league average ERA for all starters is 4.31, so he’s half a run better than that. Instead, it’s...
Bluebird Banter Sep 1, 2021
Game #132 Preview: Harvey vs Matz
Photo by Mark Blinch/ Orioles (41-90) vs Blue Jays (69-62) After a loss they could ill afford last night, the Blue Jays will look to win the series against the lowly Orioles this evening. The rubber match of this series goes at 7:07 ET. Blue Jays’ Starter Lefty Steven Matz goes for the Jays, coming off a very unheralded by great month of August. Among all Major League pitchers with at least 25 innings pitched last month, Matz had the best ERA at 1.30 through 27.2 innings. The great month has improved his season numbers to a 10-7 record with a 3.81 ERA. If he can...
Bluebird Banter Aug 27, 2021
Game #127 Preview: Matz vs Manning
Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports Blue Jays (66-60) vs Tigers (61-67) After a disappointing homestand, the Blue Jays are back out on the road for their physically shortest possible road trip, stopping in Detroit for 3 games before returning home on Monday. The first game in Detroit is scheduled to get under way tonight at 7:10 ET. Blue Jays’ Starter Steven Matz will be making his second straight start against the Tigers, after he closed out the weekend series against them last Sunday. Matz pitched well in that one, allowing just 1 run on 5 hits and no walks over 6...
Bluebird Banter Aug 22, 2021
Game #122 Preview: Hutchison vs Matz
Photo by Mark Blinch/ Tigers (59-66) vs Blue Jays (64-57) The Blue Jays wrap up their series with the Tigers this afternoon, looking to pick up the series win. The game gets underway shortly, with first pitch scheduled for 1:07 ET. Blue Jays’ Starter Steven Matz will go for the Jays, making his 22nd start of the season. He brings a 10-7 record and 4.08 ERA into play, very good numbers for a guy at the back of the rotation. He is having his best season overall since his rookie year, when he finished 6th in the Rookie of the Year voting. But also importantly for him,...
