Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.You Oughta Know ...
That all of that talk about the Blue Jays being legitimate contenders was perhaps premature. The Blue Jays had the best record in the league back on May 10, before they had played a single game against the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays.
Since then the Blue Jays are 5-10, including a 1-5 mark against Boston and New York. Now they've lost eight in a row, including the past two against the woeful Orioles.
The Blue Jays' main problem has been inability to hit in the clutch. They are hitting .141 with runners in scoring position during the losing streak."We're just in a rut right now," Kevin Millar said. "Eventually it's going to turn around. We've just got to keep plugging along."
From The Trainers' Room ...
Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett was placed on the disabled list with a left ankle sprain. The Rays have now lost both of their middle infielders in a span of two days. Second baseman Akinori Iwamura is out for the year with a torn ACL. The Rays are hoping that Bartlett will be out the minimum two weeks.
Numbers Game ...
Royals right-hander Zack Greinke is still rolling. Greinke became the first pitcher since Juan Marichal in 1966 to post a sub-1.00 earned-run average through his first 10 starts. Greinke, who gave up one run in a complete-game victory over the Tigers, has a 0.84 ERA.
In Their Own Words...
"He's added a splitter, changeup or whatever it is. He's locating his fastball really well. He's definitely not the same pitcher we faced in the past." -- Rays outfielder Carl Crawford, on the resurgence of Indians right-hander Carl Pavano. Pavano, who beat the Rays, is 5-1 with a 3.58 ERA. He now has more victories this season than in any of his four seasons with the Yankees.
Advance Scouting...
Tigers rookie righty Rick Porcello will try for his fifth victory in as many starts when he faces the Royals (2:10 PM ET). Porcello has allowed one run or fewer in four consecutive starts, the first pitcher to do so before his 21st birthday since Kerry Wood. Only four other pitchers have accomplished that: Fernando Valenzuela, Walter Johnson, Christy Matthewson and Chief Bender.
