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Blue Jays, Athletics open three-game set

Aug 20, 2007 - 2:35 PM Oakland (61-64) at Toronto (63-60) 7:07 pm EDT

TORONTO (Ticker) -- The Toronto Blue Jays will take on the Oakland Athletics in the first game of a three-game series on Monday as both teams look to salvage disappointing seasons in the final month and a half of regular-season play.

The Blue Jays have won three of their five series in August and split a four-game set against the Kansas City Royals from August 10-13. Despite the strong play, Toronto (63-60) is 10 1/2 games behind of the first-place Boston Red Sox in the American League East.

After ending last season with a loss to the Detroit Tigers in the AL Championship Series, key injuries to designated hitter Mike Piazza and closer Houston Street have led to the Athletics' (61-64) poor performance this season.

One pitcher contributing to the Blue Jays' resurgence in the second half of the season has been Shaun Marcum (10-4, 3.31). The righthander, who has won his last five starts, is 6-1 with a 2.76 ERA in seven outings since the All-Star break.

In his last start, Marcum allowed one run and four hits with six strikeouts over seven innings of a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Wednesday.

Marcum has only faced the Athletics once in his career, allowing two runs and five hits over 4 2/3 innings in the Blue Jays' 4-3 win on July 28, 2006.

Joe Blanton (10-8, 3.64 ERA) will look for his third win in his last four starts when he takes the mound for the A's. Blanton pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing five hits, in a 3-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.

Blanton hurled a complete game in his last start against Toronto. The righthander surrendered just one run and four hits in a 3-1 win on July 3.

For his career, Blanton is 3-2 with a 3.43 ERA in six starts against the Blue Jays.