TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays were unable to complete the sweep of the Rays yesterday as they fell, 8-1…Are 4-1-0 in series play to begin the campaign, having won each of their last four series. Toronto has still won nine of its last 12 contests… Finished its 1st homestand at 4-2 with an average attendance of 36,538 at Rogers Centre, good for 3rd highest among AL ballparks.
THE HITS KEEP FLOWING: Bo Bichette singled in the 1st and again in the 8th inning yesterday to finish 2-for-4…Now has eight multi-hit games, tied with teammate Matt Chapman for the most in the AL. The 25-year old has hits in 13 of the 16 games so far, going 27-for-72 (.375) with four doubles, four homers, 11 RBI, and 11 runs scored…The 27 hits are tied with Bryson Stott for the most in the Majors while his 43 total bases are now the most in MLB (2nd: Matt Olson – 42)…Among AL batters, currently ranks 3rd in AVG and 8th in SLG (.597). The shortstop has gone 25 plate appearances since his last strikeout, tied for the 5th-longest active streak in MLB…Has decreased his strikeout rate from 22.2% in 2022 to 9.3% this season…The 12.9% improvement is the largest among all AL hitters (courtesy Stats Perform).
VLAD HABITS: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drove in Toronto’s lone run yesterday as he plated George Springer with a 1stinning single…Also walked to finish with a 1-for-3 afternoon…Has reached base safely in all but one game this season, now 24-for-62 with a double, two homers, eight RBI, and a 9BB/6K ratio for a .387 AVG (2nd in the AL), a .473 OBP (3rd), and a .973 OPS (14th). The Gold Glove first baseman’s 24 hits are tied with teammate Matt Chapman for 2nd most among AL batters (T-4th in MLB), trailing only teammate Bo Bichette (27)…Has recorded 32 hard-hit balls (95+ MPH) this year, the most in MLB (2nd: Matt Chapman – 30).
STICK WHIT IT: Whit Merrifield doubled in the 4th inning yesterday before picking up a single in the 9th, finishing the day 2-for-4…Has reached base safely in all 12 of his games played this season, batting .273 (12-for-44) with three doubles, six RBI, and three walks…Is now batting .279 (46-for-165) with 13 extra-base hits and 22 RBI in his 56 games since being traded to Toronto last August.
FEELING THE GLOVE: Kevin Kiermaier doubled off lefty Shane McClanahan in the 5th inning yesterday…Has gone 6-for-18 (.333) off LHPs so far this season…Is now batting .327 (16-for49) with three doubles, a triple, a home run, and six RBI to start his Blue Jays career (.816 OPS)…His 16 hits while batting 9th are the most in the Majors (2nd: Michael A. Taylor – 15). The three-time Gold Glove winner has also landed MLB’s Play of the Week for his catch to rob a home run in the 2nd inning of Toronto’s Home Opener on April 11 vs. DET.
HITTING THE ROAD: The Blue Jays return to the road, holding down a 6-4 record while away from Rogers Centre…Their 10 road games are tied for the most in MLB…After this three-gamer in Houston, will have an off-day on Thursday before taking on the Yankees (10-6) in the Bronx for three dates over the weekend. Toronto’s .600 road win% currently ranks T-4th in the AL…Blue Jays hitters lead the AL in road AVG (.288) and road hits (106) while ranking 2nd in OBP (.352), 3rd in OPS (.773), and 6th in SLG (.421)…The pitching staff ranks 13th in the AL in road ERA (5.28), 13th in opponents’ batting average (.269), and 14th in WHIP (1.45).
KEVIN’S K’S: Kevin Gausman is making his 4th start of the season, coming off an 8.0-inning effort on April 12 vs. DET in which he racked up a season-high 11 strikeouts…His 1.35 ERA (3 ER/20.0 IP) is the best mark in his career through three starts…His 25 K’s are the most ever by a Blue Jay in the first three starts of a season.
A CHAPPY FEELING: Matt Chapman is batting .421 (24-for-57) with eight doubles, three home runs, seven walks, and 15 RBI… His 1.204 OPS is the best in the Majors…Ranks 1st in the AL in both AVG (.421) and OBP (.484) while T-2nd in total bases (41)…Also has an average exit velocity of 98.4 MPH, the highest in MLB (2nd: MJ Melendez – 97.3).
HITTING IT: The Blue Jays have notched an AL-high 156 hits (2nd: TB – 151)…Are 2nd in the AL in team batting average (.277), 3rd in in OBP (.346) and OPS (.756), and sit 6th in SLG (.410)…Have had 218 batters reach base safely (T-2nd in the AL)…Are now on a streak of 31 games with 8+ runners on base, the longest of all MLB clubs (courtesy Stats Perform).
VS. THE ASTROS: All-Time: 29-36
2022: 4-2 Road: 11-22
Road: 2-1 Minute Maid Park: 11-22
The Blue Jays went 4-2 in their six meetings with the Astros last season, taking two of three games at each ballpark…Scored 26 runs while the Astros scored 27 as Toronto claimed each of its four wins by one run… Are 11-22 all-time at Minute Maid Park but have taken four of their last seven games there. George Springer played seven seasons for the Astros and hit .270 with 137 doubles, 13 triples, 174 home runs and 458 RBI (.852 OPS)…Made three All-Star teams and was named 2017 World Series MVP…In his five games against them, has gone 5-for-18 (.278) with a double, three homers, and three RBI. Whit Merrifield went 10-for-31 (.323) with a double, a triple, and a homer in his seven games vs. the Astros last season…In 32 career meetings, is batting .294 (40-for-136) with nine doubles, three triples, three home runs, and 20 RBI (.799 OPS). Matt Chapman leads all current Blue Jays with 72 games played vs. Houston…Has gone 61-for-262 (.233) with 18 doubles, a triple, 14 homers, and 33 RBI in those contests for a .769 OPS.
STARTING PITCHER – Kevin Gausman, RHP #34
TODAY’S GAME: Making his 4th start of the season and his 3rd on the road…Took a no-decision his last time out on 4/12 vs. DET, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits over a season-high 8.0 innings with no walks and 11 strikeouts, his most as a Blue Jay…Surrendered a solo home run to Nick Maton with one out in the 4th inning, ending his streak of 15.1 innings without allowing an earned run, the longest stretch to begin a season in franchise history (2nd: Matt Shoemaker – 14.0 IP in 2019).
His 25 strikeouts are the most ever by a Blue Jay in his first 3 starts of a season (2nd: Juan Guzman – 24 in 1992 and 1996). Owns a 2.79 FIP since the start of the 2020 season, the 2nd-best mark among qualified hurlers (1st: Corbin Burnes – 2.52).
2023 HIGHLIGHTS: Picked up his 1st win of the year on 4/6 at KC, throwing 6.0 shutout frames with 4 hits, 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts…Didn’t allowed an earned run for a 2nd straight outing to begin the season. Took the loss in his season debut on 4/1 at STL, giving up 3 runs (all unearned) on 8 hits and a walk over 6.0 innings with 7 strikeouts.
2022 HIGHLIGHTS: His career-best 2.32 FIP ranked 2nd among all MLB hurlers (Carlos Rodón – 2.31)…Was 5th in the AL with 205 strikeouts and finished 11th in ERA (3.35). Picked up his 2nd win on 5/1 vs. HOU, tossing 7.0 innings of two-run ball, giving up 6 hits with no walks and a season-high 10 strikeouts…Became the 1st Blue Jay pitcher in 2022 with a double-digit strikeout game… Joined Cy Young as the only pitchers since 1903 to begin a season with five straight starts with no walks and no home runs allowed (min. 20 IP)… His 41 punchouts without any walks are the 2nd-most thru the first five games of a season in MLB history (Corbin Burnes – 49K in 2021).
Twirled 6.1 innings of one-run ball in Game 1 of a doubleheader on 5/7 at CLE, giving up 6 hits with 5 strikeouts while walking his 1st batter of the season (Franmil Reyes with 2 out in the 4th)…Faced 136 consecutive batters to the begin the year without issuing a walk, the longest streak in franchise history (Paul Quantrill – 90 in 2001), and the 3rdlongest streak across the Majors since 1974 (Mark Eichhorn – 146 in 1991, Dan Quisenberry – 146 in 1982).
Earned the win on 8/2 at TB, throwing 8.0 shutout innings with a hit, a walk, and 10 strikeouts…Became the first Blue Jays pitcher to go 8+ scoreless since Alex Manoah on 9/13/21 vs. TB, and the first to do so on the road since Ryan Borucki on 9/17/18 at BAL…Recorded double-digit strikeouts for the 4th time this season and 3rd time in his last 6 starts. Named AL Player of the Week for 8/1-8/7, going 1-0 with 14.0 scoreless innings pitched (7H, BB, 15K)…Was his 1st PotW nod…Was the 9th Blue Jays pitcher to take Player of the Week honours…Became the 2nd pitcher in team history to tally at least 15 K’s without more than 1 BB across 2 consecutive scoreless outings, joining Brandon Morrow (4/28-5/3/12).
Picked up his 9th win on 8/19 at NYY…Scattered 4 hits and a walk over 7.0 scoreless innings with 7 strikeouts… Marked his 6th scoreless outing of the season and the 3rd in his last 4 starts. Landed a no-decision on 9/21 at PHI as he tossed 6.0 scoreless innings 5H, 2BB, 8K)…Was his 6th outing of 6+ scoreless IP. Took a no-decision on 9/26 vs. NYY, giving up 2 runs on 6 hits and a walk over 6.1 innings with 7 punchouts…Became the 2nd pitcher in team history to record 200 K’s in his 1st season as a Blue Jay (Roger Clemens – 292 in 1997).
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
Set career-best marks in 2021 innings pitched (192.0), wins (14), quality starts (20), ERA (2.81), strikeouts (227), opponents’ AVG (.210), and WHIP (1.04). Named an All-Star for the 1st time in his career in 2021 and finished 6th in NL Cy Young voting…Signed a 5-year deal with Toronto on 12/1/21. Selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1st round (4th overall) of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft.
VS. THE ASTROS: Facing the Astros for the 6th time in his career and 2nd time as a Blue Jay…Met Houston once last season on 5/1 in Toronto, tossing 7.0 innings of two-run ball with 6 hits, no walks, and 10 punchouts…Has faced the current group of Astros for a total of 67 plate appearances in his career, surrendering just 2 home runs (Altuve, Bregman) and issuing 3 walks with 22 strikeouts.
HOUSTON ASTROS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros, the reigning World Series champs, will open a three-game series against the Blue Jays tonight in what is their first game of the 2023 season against an AL Eastern opponent…the Astros will start RHP Cristian Javier, who’s making his fourth start of the young season, opposite RHP Kevin Gausman and the Jays.
LEGEND OF THE FALL CLASSIC: RHP Cristian Javier was one of the most dominant pitchers in the Majors last season, as evidenced by his .171 opponent average, 0.97 WHIP and 173 strikeouts in his 134.1 innings pitched in the regular season… he followed that up with a huge performance in the postseason, making two scoreless starts for Houston, including an incredible performance in Game 4 of the World Series…trailing 2-1 in the series, the Astros started Javier in Game 4 in Philadelphia and he proceeded to toss the first 6.0 innings of a no-hitter in the Astros 5-0 series-turning win…the Astros went on to win Games 5 and 6 to clinch their title…the Astros Game 4 no-hitter
marked just the second no-hitter in World Series history.
SPACE CITY MONDAY: The Astros will celebrate Space City Monday by wearing their Nike City Connect Space City uniforms for every home game date on Mondays throughout the season… the jerseys, which are available for purchase at the Astros Team Store, pay tribute to Houston’s rich history in space travel.
VS. THE JAYS: The Astros and Blue Jays, two perennial contenders, will match up for their first series of the 2023 season this week in Houston…the Blue Jays won the season series last year, 4-2, taking both three-game series played…this series is a reunion between the Astros and OF George Springer, who played his first seven years (2014-20) in an Astros uniform… IF Cavan Biggio, the son of Astros Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, also plays for the Blue Jays.
AT THE HELM: Astros skipper Dusty Baker is in his 26th season as a manager and his fourth at the helm in Houston…Baker, who ranks ninth all-time in managerial wins with 2,100 wins, has an outside shot of moving up to sixth all time by seasons end…en route, he’d have to surpass Joe McCarthy (8th, 2,125), Bucky Harris (7th, 2,158) and Sparky Anderson (6th 2,194).
ABOUT LAST NIGHT: Last night on Sunday Night Baseball, the Astros and Rangers were in a scoreless ballgame heading into the 7th before a six-run Rangers rally eventually led to a 9-1 Astros loss…LHP Framber Valdez (1ER/6IP) started for Houston and tossed 6.0 scoreless frames before running into trouble in the 7th…offensively, 2B Mauricio Dubón extended his hitting streak to 11 games, SS Jeremy Peña stole a career high three bases and PH César Salazar tacked on his first MLB hit.
ON THE BUMP: The Astros pitching staff ranks fourth in the Majors in strikeouts (150) and sixth in ERA (3.48)…the starters have worked to a 3.30 ERA, which ranks fifth in the Majors.
EARLY LEAGUE LEADERS: LF Yordan Alvarez ranks tied for first in the Majors in RBI (20) and ranks tied for sixth in the American League in home runs (4), along with RF Kyle Tucker… Tucker also ranks second in the AL in walks (14) and seventh in OBP (.441)…2B Mauricio Dubón owns an 11-game hitting streak, which ties as the longest active streak in the AL.
RACKIN’ UP RBI: LF Yordan Alvarez (20 RBI) is the second player in club history to post 20 RBI within the team’s first 16 games, joining Lance Berkman, who drove in 21 in the Astros first 16 games of the 2002 season…Alvarez has done his work while playing in just 14 of the Astros 16 games on the season.
FILLING IN NICELY: 2B Mauricio Dubón, who’s on a career-long, 11-game hitting streak, is off to a strong start to the season, posting a .340 (17×50) average with nine runs scored, three doubles and a pair of RBI in 12 games played… Dubón, who started most of his games at shortstop and center field in 2022, has made all 12 of his starts at second base this season while filling in for the injured 2B Jose Altuve.
MISSING PIECE: The Astros are playing without their leadoff man, 2B Jose Altuve, who suffered a right thumb fracture while playing in the WBC…Altuve is expected to be sidelined from baseball activity for approx. two months…in his stead, the Astros have started IF Mauricio Dubón (12g) and IF David Hensley (4g) at the keystone, while SS Jeremy Peña (8g), OF Chas McCormick (6g) and Dubón (2g) have shared leadoff duties.
CHAS SIDELINED:CF Chas McCormick has missed the last two games after exiting Friday night’s game with vision issues… McCormick is off to a strong start to the season, as he’s hitting .275 with an .883 OPS, while accumulating five extra-base hits and four stolen bases in 11 games.
TONIGHT’S ASTROS STARTER: RHP CRISTIAN JAVIER
LAST START – 4/11 AT PIT: allowed 4 runs on 5 hits with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts in 6.0 innings…it was the first time in 9 starts that the Astros lost a game in which Javier started, dating back to 8/31/22 at TEX.
• Javier is on a career-high 5-game winning streak through his last 9 starts…in those 9 outings, he recorded a 2.15 ERA (12ER/50.1IP) with 58 strikeouts, a 0.89 WHIP and a .181 opponent batting average.
JAVIER IN ‘23: has allowed just 2 walks through his 3 starts this season (17 IP) and his 1.06 walks-per-nine innings average is the 3rd-lowest from an AL starters this season.
‘22 CAMPAIGN: was one of the most effective pitchers in the AL in ‘22….among pitchers with 140+ innings pitched, posted the lowest opponent batting average in the AL (.170), which was 16 points lower than 2nd-place finisher RHP Justin Verlander (.186), who won the AL Cy Young…also ranked 2nd in K’s per 9.0 (11.74) and 4th in WHIP (0.95) in 2022…his 11.74 K’s per 9.0 ratio trailed only RHP Shohei Ohtani (11.87) (min. 140IP).
POSTSEASON HEROICS: delivered one of the most historic starts in MLB postseason history in Gm. 4 of the ‘22 World Series, throwing six hitless innings to begin Astros combined no-hitter in 5-0 win…also struck out nine batters to just two walks in start…was the second no-hitter in World Series history and first combined no-hitter.
• Became the 10th pitcher in W.S. history with a no-hit bid of 6+ innings and was first to do so since Jerry Koosman (NYM) (6 IP) in Gm 2 of the 1969 W.S. at BAL…was followed by RHP Bryan Abreu, RHP Rafael Montero and RHP Ryan Pressly to complete the no-hitter, with each pitcher contributing one inning.
• has recorded a 2.20 ERA (8ER/32.2IP) 14 postseason games (2 GS) in his postseason career, dating back to ‘20…it’s the 2nd-lowest ERA of any postseason pitcher (min. 30 IP) since the beginning of the ‘20 postseason, trailing only Braves RHP Ian Anderson (1.26 ERA)…has held opponents to a .127 average (14×110) in his postseason career…is the lowest postseason opponent’s batting average of any MLB pitcher (min. 30 IP) since ‘20… the Astros are 11-3 in postseason games Javier has appeared in.
INVISABALL’: has held opponents to a .184 average (210×1144) throughout his MLB career…it’s the lowest opponent’s batting average (min. 300 IP) of any MLB pitcher since entering the league in ‘20…the next-closest players are CLE Triston McKenzie and MIL Corbin Burnes (.196).
NO-NO: contributed seven innings to a combined no-hitter vs. the Yankees on June 25 at Yankee Stadium…it was the 14th no-hitter in Astros history and the third combined no-hitter…Javier struck out a then-career high 13 batters…it was just the 2nd no-hitter tossed against the Yankees since 1959, with the Astros also delivering the other one (2003).
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: finished 3rd in the 2020 AL Rookie of the Year voting after leading all AL rookies in ERA (3.48)…marked the highest finish by an Astros rookie pitcher since Roy Oswalt finished second in the 2001 National League Rookie of the Year voting.
• was named the Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2019…recorded a 1.74 ERA (22ER/113.2IP) with a career-high 170 strikeouts between three levels in the Astros system.
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT: will be making his 2nd career start against the Blue Jays, with both coming at Minute Maid Park…his start in 2021 against Toronto, was the only start of the ‘21 season, that he allowed 5-or-more runs.
