Minnesota @ Toronto preview
Rogers Centre
Last Meeting ( May 18, 2010 ) Minnesota 2, Toronto 11
Jesse Litsch has enjoyed plenty of success in his career against the Minnesota Twins.
He could use a little more Tuesday night - and so could the rest of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Litsch looks for his first major-league victory in more than 21 months as he takes the hill in Tuesday's series opener at the Rogers Centre between the Jays and the visiting Twins. The teams last met in mid-May, where they split a two-game mini-series in Toronto.
That series took place about a month before Litsch (0-3) made his return to the majors after missing nearly all of last season with a major arm injury.
The 25-year-old will be happy to see Minnesota, as he owns a 3-0 career record against the Twins with a 3.10 ERA in 29 innings. The last time he faced them, he went the distance on a four-hitter for his second career shutout back on Sept. 4, 2008.
Those were happier times for Litsch, whose last major-league victory came just 3 1/2 weeks later. He made just two starts last season, and has dropped three of his first four starts since returning to the Toronto rotation.
Litsch was solid in his previous outing, allowing just two runs on four hits over six innings, but was left out to dry in a 3-1 loss to the Cleveland Indians.
Litsch has alternated strong and abysmal outings so far, boasting an ugly 6.98 ERA while opponents are hitting .303 off him.
The Blue Jays are looking for some good mojo as they hope to climb back to the .500 mark for the season. Toronto dropped two of three on the road against the division-leading New York Yankees to return home below .500 for the first time all season.
The Jays are 10-20 over their last 30 games, but did receive some good news over the weekend as they discovered they'll be sending three players to next week's All-Star Game. Outfielder Vernon Wells, infielder-outfielder Jose Bautista and catcher John Buck will play for the American League against a collection of National Leaguers on July 13 at Angels Stadium.
The Blue Jays will face a red-hot pitcher Tuesday in Carl Pavano (9-6), who has won four of his last five starts. The veteran right-hander earned a no-decision in his previous outing, surrendering three runs on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings of a 5-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Pavano enjoyed a strong June, going 4-1 in the month and capping it off with a complete-game three-hitter against the New York Mets on June 26. It was his third complete game of the season, and his first shutout since June 5 of last season when he blanked the Kansas City Royals as a member of the Indians.
Pavano has historically stumbled against Toronto. He's just 3-5 all-time against the Blue Jays - including 2-4 at the Rogers Centre, where he has amassed a forgettable 7.04 ERA in six starts. He was roughed up in his last game there, allowing six runs on 10 hits over four innings in an 11-2 drubbing on May 18.