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Marlins-Blue Jays Preview

Jun 13, 2009 - 5:55 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Florida (29-33) at Toronto (34-28), 1:07 p.m. EDT

Near the top of the AL East, the Toronto Blue Jays are trying to make the playoffs for the first time in 16 years. It won't be easy if their ace misses significant time.

One day after Roy Halladay left with an injury, the Blue Jays look avoid losing their third straight game Saturday when they continue an interleague series versus the Florida Marlins.

Halladay left Friday's 7-3 loss after three innings because of a sore groin. The 2003 AL Cy Young Award winner, who leads the majors with 10 wins and 103 innings, had won seven straight decisions and entered having thrown back-to-back complete games.

"Just out of nowhere I felt a pinch," Halladay said. "It wasn't a lot of pain right after so I was just kind of hoping it was a twinge or something. But I felt it on the next pitch (the warmup). It's just one of those things, kind of out of nowhere, it catches you off guard."

It has not been determined how much time - if any - the five-time All-Star will miss, but the Blue Jays (34-29) can't afford to lose him for long if they want to make the postseason for the first time since winning the World Series in 1993. Toronto currently trails East-leading Boston by four games.

A Blue Jays' lineup that has gone just 2 for 20 with runners in scoring position in its last two games is going to need to step up.

Vernon Wells, who was moved from fourth to third in the batting order Friday, is mired in a 4-for-37 slump. He's also just 2 for 16 in four interleague games this season with Toronto losing each.

The Blue Jays have also had no luck against the Marlins (30-33) lately, getting outscored 35-10 in losing the last six meetings.

Casey Janssen (2-2, 5.24 ERA) looks to help Toronto end that skid. After lasting a season-low four innings of an 8-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on June 3, Janssen allowed three runs and six hits with six strikeouts in 5 1-3 innings of Monday's 6-3 win at Texas.

The right-hander has made four starts this season after missing all of 2008 recovering from a torn labrum.

In his only start against the Marlins on June 17, 2006, Janssen was tagged for a career-high seven runs and 11 hits in three innings of an 8-2 loss.

On Friday, Cody Ross hit a tiebreaking grand slam - his third this season - to help the Marlins improve to 8-2 all-time in Toronto.

Sean West (1-1, 2.22) looks to build off his first career win and help the Marlins win their fourth straight game at Rogers Centre.

West pitched well in his first three career starts, posting a 3.31 ERA, but was back by three total runs of support. On Monday against San Francisco, he had a no-hitter through six innings before allowing two hits and one walk with six strikeouts over eight of the 4-0 win.

The left-hander is in the rotation for the injured Anibal Sanchez, but West has been pitching so well he could remain in the majors.

"I can't worry about that," West told the Marlins' official We site. "I just try to do everything I can do and leave it all on the field and try to make it hard on these guys to make a decision. I feel like I did that (Monday), and I feel like I made a pretty good statement."