Know Your Foe #21: Blue Jays will be swinging for the fences at Coors

TORONTO BLUE JAYS (34-27, 5.5 GB, 4TH AL EAST)

The powerful Jays come in to Coors Field boasting three of the American League's top ten home run hitters. Jose Bautista, who has come out of nowhere to tie for the AL lead (with Miguel Cabrera), has 18 bombs. The resurgent Vernon Wells has 15, and Alex Gonzalez, who has been known to have a little bit of pop in his bat in the past, has 13. In addition, John Buck is on the brink of double-digits in homers with nine, while the trio of Edwin Encarnacion, Adam Lind, and Aaron Hill each have eight. Comparatively, the latter four match the output of the Rockies' top four home run hitters (Seth Smith has nine, while Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez, and Miguel Olivo each have eight).

Last Series vs. Rockies: June 22-24, 2007 (W 3-0)

The Blue Jays swept the Rockies in Toronto behind the strength of an offense that scored 25 runs in the three-game series. There are only three position players who are still contributing members of the Blue Jays that played in that series. Aaron Hill was the best of the three, going 6-for-14 in the series. Vernon Wells hurt the Rockies with the long ball, going deep twice despite only have three hits. Adam Lind also homered and was 3-for-11 at the plate overall. None of the three pitchers that started against the Rockies in that series are currently members of the Blue Jays, but a large chunk of the bullpen is still there, and the Jays 'pen absolutely owned the Rockies' bats. The four relievers who pitched in that series who are still on the Jays' staff (Scott Downs, Casey Janssen, Brian Tallet, Jason Frasor) combined to pitch 7.2 innings and struck out 13 Rockies, all while only allowing one run.

Recent Results: won 2-1 vs. New York (AL); lost 1-2 at Tampa Bay

Behind the bats of Vernon Wells and Jose Bautista, the Jays were able to take two of three from the Yankees. Bautista hit two homers in the opening game of the series (which were his only two of the three-game set), while Vernon Wells had a pair of homers in the series, as well. Ricky Romero, who is the starter for tonight's game, went eight innings and allowed two runs on five hits while striking out seven in his start, while Brandon Morrow pitched seven innings of one-run ball, striking out eight in a losing effort.

Against the Rays, the Toronto bats were silenced, as they were outscored 21-4 while losing two of three. The lone bright spot offensively for the Jays was Alex Gonzalez, who in their win last night, homered and also drove in a run on a sacrifice fly.

Friday-Sunday: 3-game series @ Coors Field

Expected Pitching Matchups

Friday, 11 June 2010 @ 7:10pm MT

Saturday, 12 June 2010 @ 6:10pm MT

Sunday, 13 June 2010 @ 1:10pm MT

More after the jump...

Expected Lineup

Bench

Closer

Injuries