5/3: Indians/Blue Jays ... 7:05 PM

[swerb]

Two guys making their first starts of the season ...

Dustin McGowan (0-0, 0.00) vs Cliff Lee (0-0, 0.00)





http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/a ... p&c_id=cle

Lee expected to return to the fold

Cleveland ( 16-8 ) vs. Toronto ( 13-14 ), 7:05 p.m. ET

Cliff Lee makes his season debut on Thursday night against the Blue Jays.

And when he does so, he will be a changed man.

After an abdominal injury suffered during Spring Training cost him the season's opening month, Lee now has plenty more to offer.

In addition to the left-hander's fastball, cutter and curve, Lee now also has a slider to show the opposition. Born midway through last season and fine-tuned for nearly a year, Lee hopes the pitch will serve as a go-to strikeout option, the ball sweeping away from left-handers and diving at the back foot of right-handers.

If all goes well on Thursday, Lee should get between 90 and 100 pitches to work on his experiment.

"I'll try it and see if it works," Lee said. "It can't hurt to have another pitch." Lee is 0-2 lifetime with a 5.40 ERA in three career starts against Toronto. The Jays will counter with Dustin McGowan, who is making a debut of his own after recently being recalled from Toronto's Triple-A affiliate.

Pitching matchup

CLE: LHP Cliff Lee (0-0, -.--)

Left-hander Cliff Lee made his fourth and final rehab start Friday at Double-A Akron, holding Reading to two hits with a walk and seven strikeouts over five scoreless innings. His return to the rotation after suffering a strained right abdominal muscle in Spring Training is imminent. If for some reason Lee is unable to start, the club could opt to have Jeremy Sowers close out the homestand.

TOR: RHP Dustin McGowan (0-0, -.--)

On Monday, Toronto placed left-hander Gustavo Chacin on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left shoulder. McGowan, who last started on Saturday for Triple-A Syracuse, will take Chacin's spot in the Blue Jays rotation. In five starts this year with the Chiefs, McGowan was 0-2 with a 1.64 ERA, 29 strikeouts and nine walks over 22 innings. McGowan is 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA in his career against the Indians, but he has never pitched at Jacobs Field.

Player to watch

Tribe shortstop Jhonny Peralta is riding a seven-game hitting streak and has four homers over his last six games. Lifetime in 64 at-bats against Toronto, Peralta has four home runs.

[pup]

Sounds like this McGowan cat can throw the fastball! Yummy.

[dmcdougal]

I haven't heard about his fastball but he is clearly a strikeout pitcher with 29 K in 22 IP.

Indians are vulnerable to a strikeout pitcher but lets hope we can jump on him early and shake his confidence.

[rawdawgexpress]

The Indians over the last few years always seem to do a good job against the better pitchers on a staff that are known quantities to them. However, they always seems befuddled by guys recently brought up, ie there is no "book" on them. This year, we've beaten Santana and Burnett, but lost to the Yankees scrubs that were just up from AAA.

[dmcdougal]

lineups

Cleveland

1. Grady Sizemore CF
2. David Dellucci LF
3. Travis Hafner DH
4. Victor Martinez C
5. Trot Nixon RF
6. Ryan Garko 1B
7. Jhonny Peralta SS
8. Mike Rouse 3B
9. Josh Barfield 2B

Toronto

1. Aaron Hill 2B
2. Adam Lind LF
3. Frank Thomas DH
4. Troy Glaus 3B
5. Alexis Rios CF
6. Lyle Overbay 1B
7. Jason Phillips C
8. Matt Stairs RF
9. John McDonald

Pitching for the Tribe----- Cliff Lee
Pitching for the Jays----- Dustin McGowan

[swerb]

The Indians over the last few years always seem to do a good job against the better pitchers on a staff that are known quantities to them. However, they always seems befuddled by guys recently brought up, ie there is no "book" on them. This year, we've beaten Santana and Burnett, but lost to the Yankees scrubs that were just up from AAA.

Without a doubt ... and it seems like it's been that way going back to the Grover days even.

[dmcdougal]

I'd like to see Barfield moved occasionally to the 2-hole and see how he performs. It's not like we're getting great performance from that spot anyway

[dmcdougal]

The Indians over the last few years always seem to do a good job against the better pitchers on a staff that are known quantities to them. However, they always seems befuddled by guys recently brought up, ie there is no "book" on them. This year, we've beaten Santana and Burnett, but lost to the Yankees scrubs that were just up from AAA.

can't blame those losses on the offense...

[pup]

I figured at least Mike Rouse would be a good baserunner, for as bad of a hitter as he is.

[CLEfan86]

Gotta hope Hafner picks them up, because the moron on third doesn't remember to tag.

Edit: McGowan helps us out

[pup]

And he makes up for it with great hustle.

[CLEfan86]

Nice work Victor, right back in it! 4-3 Jays.

[hermanfontenot]

Really making McGowen work.

[skatingtripods]

I'd like to see Barfield moved occasionally to the 2-hole and see how he performs. It's not like we're getting great performance from that spot anyway

Terrible. He takes no pitches, gets himself out early in the count, and just isn't ready for that spot. Granted, Dellucci's bad there too.

[skatingtripods]

I'm not surprised with Lee's struggles. It'll take him a few appearances. Not to mention he's not going to get us through the 5th. Here's to the bullpen again!

[swerb]

WTF was Phillips problem there? Nothing wrong with how Barfield went into the plate.

New respect for Dellucci for getting Josh'd back there. He shoulda lit Phillips up.

[CLEfan86]

Anybody see that play at the plate? You'd think with two outs Barfield should be able to score, I guess he wasn't running with the pitch.

[swerb]

Great catch by DeLooch.

[tribefan333]

I just gained some respect from Dellucci.

Barfield was out, and Jason Philips blocked the plate. Philips started talking trash, David heard him, and started pushing instantly. For some reason that gains my respect 100% all the time, him standing up for Josh.

Then Dellucci makes a great diving catch.

Anybody think of Pedro Cerrano? I hope Dellucci hits a homer next inning, and goes "Look at the scoreboard now Grasshopper!"

[skatingtripods]

If this team is winning to battle like that for each other every day this year, I can't wait for October.

[skatingtripods]

Dellucci is a lot less useless when playing with a chip on his shoulder. I'm liking it!

[pup]

Wow, if I would have known this, I would have challenged Delucci to a fought a month ago!

[swerb]

Dellucci es en fuego. He roped that thing.

A fight, a diving catch, and a frozen rope double.

Let him steal third! With Hafner at the plate and no outs! It's so crazy, it just might work!

[skatingtripods]

A fight, a diving catch, and a frozen rope double.

It's the baseball version of a Gordie Howe hat trick.

[pup]

DAMN. I had visions of Delucci blasting Phillips into the Jays dugout right there.

[swerb]

Victah ... 3-3. Hes just rakin' this year.

Man, I thought Dellucci and Phillips were going to meet again at home there.

[CLEfan86]

Back to even, I'm glad we're such a pain to play.

[skatingtripods]

GARKO! Awesome, showing some oppy power. Holy shit, how the hell does Ryan Garko triple in any park?

[pup]

A Garko triple is getting a great googily moogily out of Buff tomorrow, lock it up!

[skatingtripods]

One word describes this offense: lethal. Another starter at 100 tosses in the 5th.

[Steve Buffum]

Back-to-back doubles, Overbay and Phillips, 5-5.

Lee has 8 GO and 5 FO: is he throwing differently this year, or are all the fly balls hits this time?

[e0y2e3]

A Garko triple is getting a great googily moogily out of Buff tomorrow, lock it up!

I'm hoping buff takes this as a creative challenge.

[Steve Buffum]

Oops, I thought it said John McDonald drove in a run.

[Steve Buffum]

Okay, Lee's out of the sixth, tied 5-5. 97 pitches, that has to be it for Lee, right?

[skatingtripods]

Yeah, Lee's done. Indians site said he was scheduled to go 90-100.

Gutsy performance from Clifton tonight. He gave us 6 and we're certainly in the game. I can't complain at all here.

[pup]

Okay, Lee's out of the sixth, tied 5-5. 97 pitches, that has to be it for Lee, right?

Depends. Do you still have that long range zapper to wake Wedge up?

[Steve Buffum]

Lee has 8 GO and 5 FO: is he throwing differently this year, or are all the fly balls hits this time?

No, really, what's Lee throwin'? Same ol' stuff?

[Steve Buffum]

This is it for Rouse: Marcum is easily their most incompetent pitcher, if he can't get a hit now, we need to find Inglett some magic beans or something.

[skatingtripods]

Lee has 8 GO and 5 FO: is he throwing differently this year, or are all the fly balls hits this time?

No, really, what's Lee throwin'? Same ol' stuff?

I can't see it, but my guess is that the Jays are pull happy and trying to pull outside fastballs and hitting them on the ground. He has added a "slider" to his repertoire and maybe the downward movement on that is helping.

[Steve Buffum]

I can't see it, but my guess is that the Jays are pull happy and trying to pull outside fastballs and hitting them on the ground. He has added a "slider" to his repertoire and maybe the downward movement on that is helping.

Thanks, Pod.

I've always liked his curve, and he moves the ball around, but his GB:FB was simply ghastly last season.

[pup]

Sorry Buff. He has only thrown the big slow curve once. the rest of the night has been cutters on the hands of righties. Not sure what he is doing to the LHers. Bit Matt Stairs is one of them, so that wouldn't even really count.

[Steve Buffum]

This is it for Rouse: Marcum is easily their most incompetent pitcher, if he can't get a hit now, we need to find Inglett some magic beans or something.

That's it! No soup for you! I have found the next Ramon Vazquez!

[Wahoot]

It's Oldberto time!!!

[skatingtripods]

Anyone else cheer a little inside when you see Dice-K's line and it says 7 under earned runs? Cause I know I do.

[Steve Buffum]

It's Oldberto time!!!

Oh, for Pete's sake, they're trying to kill me!

Did they call up a fresh pitcher or not?!?!

Where is that bawling emoticon ...

[Charboneau]

Oldberto shuts them down....

Go get your lotto tickets boys....tonight is our night

[CLEfan86]

Hernandez a scoreless inning, woo!

[Steve Buffum]

Well, it was scoreless, but it still featured Oldberto's ninety-third wild pitch.

[Steve Buffum]

Anyone else cheer a little inside when you see Dice-K's line and it says 7 under earned runs? Cause I know I do.

I'm happier when it says TB 5, MIN 1.

[skatingtripods]

I'm happier when it says TB 5, MIN 1.

Me too. Shields pitched out of a bases loaded 0 out jam in the 5th, I think, getting Mauer to K swinging and Morneau to hit into a DP. Very impressive.