Series Preview. Toronto v Cincinatti

Series Preview Toronto v Cincinatti.

Jays coming off win on Sunday hope to keep the bats going against the Reds.

This is not the first time Jays have seen the Reds they played them three times in the Spring winning two of three.

Tonight’s pitcher Burnett has also faced them this year in Dunedin despite media comments today that he has not faced them since 2005.
In March Burnett started second game of the Spring. Jays won that one 8-4 thanks to HRs from Coats and Inglett and the hitting of Stairs and Eckstein. Burnett has probably forgotten it as he made error on a play to Overbay dropping the throw on an easy out. Joe Inglett also made horrible mental error in that game forgetting number of outs.

At the end of the month Jays also won the night game in Dunedin 6-3 with Litsch pitching. Jays had thirteen hits and all round good hitting. Litsch had a no hitter going into the seventh. against Aaron Harang tomorrow night’s pitcher.

Jays lost the away game in Sarasota. 5-3. Marcum had a terrible outing giving up two home runs to Adam Dunn the player JP does not want. Toronto’s own Joey Votto had a two run shot in that game for the Reds.

Cincinatti (35-42) right now at the bottom of the NL Central but don’t rule this team out, they are definitely underachieving right now. Any team with Griffey, Dunn and Votto has power. I saw this team rout the Phillies 6-1 in the spring. Jays will underestimate them at their peril. And you know Adam Dunn will be ready to get JP Ricciardi to eat his negative words about him last week. Dunn in a slump right now still has 18 home runs.

Pitching match up for Tuesday Burnett (6-7, 5.42 ERA) has had terrible last three starts and has not gone more than five innings in any of these games. At the same time giving up 22 hits and 12 walks. He gave up eight runs for the second time in three starts in the 8-7 loss to Milwaukee.

Arroyo (4-6, 5.55) is 0-2 with a 6.33 ERA in four starts this month, allowing six homers in 21 1-3 innings. The right-hander has given up 16 runs and 33 hits in his last 20 1-3 innings on the road.

Jays could and should do well in the series BUT the way they have been playing anything can happen.
I think many in the crowd will also be looking for Griffey to get hold of one to RF.