Cleveland @ Toronto preview
Rogers Centre
Last Meeting ( Jul 15, 2012 ) Cleveland 0, Toronto 3
It took only one off-season for the Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians to put a charge into their rosters, creating high expectations for a pair of fourth-place clubs a season ago. R.A. Dickey was one of the high-profile additions to find his way to the American League East and will attempt to give new Blue Jays manager John Gibbons his first win in his second stint with the team on Tuesday when they host the retooled Indians. One month before acquiring Dickey from the New York Mets, Toronto sent shockwaves throughout the baseball world in November when it landed Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Josh Johnson along with two other players in 12-player blockbuster with the Miami Marlins.
The Indians completed their own facelift to compete in the AL Central under new manager Terry Francona. Cleveland acquired highly touted pitching prospect Trevor Bauer and outfielder Drew Stubbs in a three-team trade and added free agents Nick Swisher, Michael Bourn and Mark Reynolds.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), SNET (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Justin Masterson (2012: 11-15, 4.93 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH R.A. Dickey (20-6, 2.73)
In a rotation full of question marks, Masterson will need to rebound after failing to follow up on his impressive 2011 campaign. The 28-year-old sinkerballer was sharp on Opening Day last season – striking out 10 Blue Jays – but mostly struggled thereafter as his ERA jumped from 3.21 in 2011 to 4.93 and his WHIP increased from 1.28 to 1.45. Although Masterson struggled mightily on the road last season (5-9, 6.40 ERA), he allowed only one run in two starts against the Blue Jays last season and is 3-1 against them in his career.
Dickey, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, enjoyed his breakout season at age 37, coasting to a 12-1 start that included back-to-back one-hitters and a scoreless streak that lasted 44 2/3 innings. Although he fell off a bit after the All-Star break last season, the knuckleballer still finished atop the NL in strikeouts (230), complete games (five) and shutouts (three). Although he has struggled a bit against Bourn (9-for-28) in his career, he has dominated Swisher (2-for-12) and Stubbs (1-for-9, seven strikeouts).
WALK-OFFS
1. Toronto outlasted Cleveland in an Opening Day-record 16 innings last season.
2. Masterson has allowed left-handed hitters to hit .292 against him in his career; the Blue Jays’ projected Opening Day roster will feature six switch hitters or left-handed batters.
3. Gibbons posted a 305-305 record as Toronto manager from 2004-08.
PREDICTION: Blue Jays 6, Indians 3