Cleveland Indians series preview: Toronto Blue Jays, July 9-11

Coming of a disappointing series against Detroit, the Indians continue their homestand with three games against the Blue Jays. Tuesday and Wednesday's games will start at 7:05, while Thursday's series finale begins at 12:05 that afternoon. The two teams haven't met since their season-opening series in Toronto, when the Tribe took 2 of 3.

Team in a Box

*All stats through Monday, July 8th's results

The Blue Jays acquired a lot of new players coming into 2013, including Melky Cabrera, R.A. Dickey, Josh Johnson, and Jose Reyes, and were seen by many as a top contender for the American League pennant. Instead, they stumbled badly in the season's first couple months, and at the end of play on June 4th, they found themselves with a 24-34 record. Since then though, they've gone 19-11, including an 11-game winning streak, and have pulled back within 6 games of the second wildcard spot. They aren't likely to overcome enough of the teams ahead of them to make the postseason, but they're back in the conversation.

Projected Lineup

The lineup is very dangerous through the heart of the order. Reyes has been hot since returning from an injury, Bautista and Encarnacion continue to be one of the best power-hitting duos in baseball, Lind is having his best season since 2009, and Rasmus finally looks like the player Toronto thought it was acquiring back in 2011.

Projected Starters

Johnson and Buehrle have disappointed in their first season in Toronto, Johnson especially. Rogers, on the other hand, has done fairly well since coming over from Cleveland in a deal for Yan Gomes and Mike Aviles. He worked out of the bullpen until a month ago, when he was moved into the rotation. Since then he's made 3 quality starts and compiled a 3.89 ERA over 34.2 innings (in 6 games). Buehrle has faced the Indians more times than any other pitcher in the last 25 years, but without great success (a 4.87 ERA, his highest against any of the 13 opponents he's thrown 100+ innings against).

*This post has been updated to reflect that Toronto has moved R.A. Dickey up a day. He will now pitch on Thursday, instead of Mark Buehrle.

Key Relievers

Other active members of the bullpen are Steve Delabar, Darren Oliver, Neil Wagner, Juan Perez, and Dustin McGowan. There aren't many (if any) big names in that group, but collectively, Toronto's bullpen has been arguably the AL's best. They lead all Major League teams in innings pitched and have the best ERA in the American League. The Indians should look top avoid any battles of the bullpen in this series.

On the Shelf

• 3B Brett Lawrie (sprained ankle) - 15-day DL, rehabbing now
• OF Melky Cabrera (knee tendonitis) - 15-day DL, likely back after All-Star break
• SP Brandon Morrow (strained forearm) - 15-day DL, possible August return
• SP J.A. Happ (head contusion) - 60-day DL, possible August return
• SP Drew Hutchinson (Tommy John surgery) - 60-day DL, possible August return
• RP Luis Perez (Tommy John surgery) - 60-day DL, possible August return
• RP Sergio Santos (elbow surgery) - 60-day DL, rehabbing now

Almanac

*Does not include 2013 stats