News: Beckett had his worst start of the season Tuesday, as he allowed seven runs on ten hits in just 4.2 innings of an 8-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Beckett did salvage the effort a bit with seven strikeouts, but paid dearly for the four home runs that he allowed.
Views: Part of the reason that I was a little weary of Beckett (and former teammate A.J. Burnett) heading into the season was that they certainly didn't face offenses like the Jays (in Beckett's case), the Red Sox (in Burnett's case), or the Yankees back when they were pitching in the NL East. Beckett was solid in his only start against the Yanks, but he sure doesn't seem to like facing Toronto much. He fared well against them in his second start of the season, but he's been lit up by the Jays the last three times he's faced them, allowing five, four, and now seven runs in some relatively short outings. Keep starting him, but consider benching him against Toronto.... Vernon Wells, in particular, has his number (four homers in twelve at bats).
