TORONTO – Mark Lowe and Ben Revere both faced the Toronto Blue Jays within the last week, and came away with a similar impression of the team that would eventually trade for them: the Blue Jays can hit.
“With this lineup, it’s going to be a great time,” said Revere, who visited Toronto as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies days before being traded to the Blue Jays. “Hitting in front of these big boys, and bash mashers, whatever you want to call them, the only thing to do to make my job easy is just ‘Ben do everything you can to get on base and we’ll score you.’ I’m just like, ‘that’s pretty easy.’”
When Lowe pitched against the Blue Jays in Seattle last weekend, he was reminded of the Texas Rangers teams he played on that reached the World Series in 2010 and 2011.
“It’s the same type of lineup. There’s not a breath of fresh air at all,” Lowe said. “This team is never out of a game, no matter what the score is.”
Lowe, who was officially activated Saturday along with Revere, had a 1.00 ERA with 47 strikeouts and just 11 walks in 36 innings for the Mariners this year. The right-hander’s average fastball velocity is now 95 mph, the best it’s been since 2011.
“The game is really slow for me right now,” he said. “I’m able to think really well on the mound right now. Nothing’s really speeding up on me. All those things are part of doing well and pitching well.”
The acquisitions of Lowe and Revere wrapped up a busy trade deadline for the Blue Jays, who traded for five players leading up to July 31. Revere arrived in Toronto batting .298 with a .334 on-base percentage and a .374 slugging percentage in 388 plate appearances. He’s slated to become Toronto’s left fielder thanks to the contact skills and defensive range he offers.
“One thing he does is provide tremendous range out there in left field,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. “That’s been an issue at times out there.”
Revere says his goal is to help the Blue Jays win a championship. He’s used to phoning friends on contenders after the season and telling them how much he envies the chance to play for a ring. This time, he’s hoping to be on the other end of those conversations.
“Hopefully someone can call me and tell me I’m a lucky dog,” Revere said.
