Tonight at 7:10 p.m. ET the Toronto Blue Jays (0-1) will try to shake off a humbling Opening Day loss to the Tampa Bay Rays (1-0) at Tropicana Field when they send youngster Drew Hutchison (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound against Rays starter Alex Cobb (0-0, 0.00 ERA). Live stream the game by clicking this link; Rays fans can find the game on WDAE 620, while Jays fans can find the radio broadcast on SN590.
Big things are expected of Hutchison, and need to come to fruition if Toronto is to compete in the AL East. He looked a bit overwhelmed at times in limited MLB action last season, but Jays coaches think he looks the part these days.
"I just think he looks stronger, his body's filled out even more," said Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker. "I think he's coming into his own ... he's more mature. I just can't get over how he carries himself. He's actually a young leader on this team."
He will not have much to live up to, after Tampa Bay lit up R.A. Dickey for six runs on five hits while the knuckleballer walked six. The Blue Jays also lost shortstop Jose Reyes after a single at-bat, placing him on the disabled list following the game. Reyes struggled all spring with hamstring problems-- "Irritated the same spot, so that's a concern," manager John Gibbons said.
Cobb was stellar last season, and follows one of the game's best pitchers in David Price. The Rays rotation is stacked one-through-five, and figures to be an issue for opponents all year long. "I'm certain other teams see our rotation come to town and they're not really pleased about it," manager Joe Maddon said.
In 2013 Cobb was 11-3 with a 2.76 ERA 1.21 WHIP, and 134 strikeouts in 143.1 innings of work.
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