Game 132: Playoff Spoilers

Tuesday, August 26 2003 @ 06:53 AM EDT

Contributed by: Coach

So far in August, the Blue Jays have hurt Seattle and helped Oakland. Now they go into Boston for a mini-series. The Red Sox, who swept four straight from the M's to create a three-way tie in the AL wild-card race, are aware that they must cope with Roy Halladay tomorrow, so they need a win tonight to sustain that momentum.

It's RH Tim Wakefield (1-1, 4.68 in four 2003 starts against the Jays this year) facing LH Mark Hendrickson (1-0, 4.09 in four previous starts vs. Boston). Lurch held the BoSox to two earned runs in six innings in his only Fenway appearance back in April, and has been pitching well lately, with two wins over the Mariners in his last three starts. Toronto beat Wakefield in Fenway July 18, but ten days earlier, he shut the Jays down at SkyDome. The knuckleballer has three straight no-decisions.

My usual source for pregame lineups has yet to post the box score, so for a change, I'll first-guess. Bordick, Catalanotto, Myers and Delgado have had the most historical success against Wakefield; perhaps Cat should lead off, with Bordick second. If Cash is behind the plate, let Myers DH, as Phelps sometimes has trouble with soft-tossers. Reed Johnson is 0-for-8 vs. Wakefield, but with Kielty hurt, Sparky needs to be in the lineup. I'd bat him ninth tonight.

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