TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays edged the Rangers, 2-1, in the opener of their three-game series in Arlington last night, despite being outhit by a 6-3 margin…Won for the 2nd time this season when notching three or fewer hits (also: 1-0 W on April 29 vs. SEA)…Have won an MLB-high 14 games when scoring three or fewer runs this year (2nd: BAL – 11G)…Joined the Rays (11) and Angels (10) as the only American League clubs with double digit wins in the month of June…Moved to 12-6 in one-run games this season (.667%), the best winning percentage among AL teams (2nd: BAL – .632%). Toronto has gone 10-5 over its last 15 games and 13-7 over the last 20…With a win today, can improve to 14-9-0 in series play and 7-6-0 on the road.
THE GREAT JANBINO: Danny Jansen provided all the offence necessary for the Blue Jays last night, sending a two-run homer over the left-field fence in the top of the 5th inning…Was his 9th home run of the season and his 3rd in the last two games…Homered in consecutive games for the first time this year and the 10th time in his career (last: 2G from May 24-26, 2022). Over his last 18 games, the Elmhurst, IL, native has
gone 18-for-65 (.277) with five doubles, six homers, and 17 RBI for a .631 SLG% and a .929 OPS…Has driven in 30 runs this season, despite playing just 40 games.
ALL GAUS, NO BRAKES: Kevin Gausman picked up his 6th win of the year on Friday, tossing 6.0 frames of one-run ball with four hits, two walks, and four strikeouts…Marked his 11th quality start of the season, trailing only Marcus Stroman (13) for the most in the Majors…His 121 strikeouts lead the AL, trailing only Spencer Strider (127) for the most in MLB. Among AL pitchers, the righty is currently 1st in
SO/9 (11.75) and 1st in K rate (32.2%)…Also ranks 2nd in innings pitched (92.2), 2nd in FIP (2.69), 6th in SO/BB (5.04), and 9th in ERA (3.01).
WHITTING MACHINE: Whit Merrifield batted in the two-hole last night for the first time as a Blue Jay, singling in the top of the 1st as part of a 1-for-4 effort…Extended his hitting streak to eight games, going 11-for-28 (.393) over that stretch with a pair of doubles and a pair of RBI (.933 OPS). Since May 19th, is hitting .372 (35-for-94) with six doubles, a homer, 10 RBI, and eight walks (.433 OBP, .901 OPS) in 27 games…Over that span, ranks 3rd in the Majors in batting average (Luis Arraez – .408, Josh Naylor – .374)…On the season, sits 4th in the AL in AVG (.307) and 5th in stolen bases (18).
PULLING DOUBLE DUTY: Bo Bichette picked up his 14th double of the season in the 6th inning on Friday…Doubled in three straight games for the 2nd time this season (3G from May 4-6). The shortstop is currently tied with Luis Arraez for the MLB lead in hits (96)…His .317 batting average also ranks 1st in the AL (4th in MLB), while he ranks 2nd in total bases (154), 6th in SLG (.508), 7th in OPS (.855), T-8th in home runs (14), T-9th in XBH (29), and 10th in RBI (44).
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Blue Jays are off on a three-city, nine-day road trip (2-2 so far)…Own a 20-19 road record this season for a .513 win% (7th in the AL)…After this trio of games against the Rangers, will head out for three contests in Miami (39-31). Blue Jays hitters lead the American League in road hits (364)…Rank 2nd among AL clubs in road AVG (.264), 2nd in road SLG (.435), 2nd in road OPS (.764), and 3rd in road OBP (.329)…The pitching staff ranks 10th in the AL in road ERA (4.33), 11th in road WHIP (1.36), and 12th in road opponents’ AVG (.259).
ROMANO-MATIC: Jordan Romano earned his 20th save of the season last night, tossing 1.1 shutout frames with a trio of strikeouts…Has picked up a save in each of his last 10 appearances (2 ER/10.1 IP)…The 20 saves are 2nd most in the Majors, trailing only Emmanuel Clase (21). The Markham, ON, native is now the only pitcher in franchise history with multiple seasons of 20+ saves before the All-Star break (20 in 2022)…The club’s record for most saves before the All-Star break is 24, set by B.J. Ryan in 2006.
LAYING OFF THE DONUTS: The Blue Jays have notched 646 hits this season, behind only Texas (652) and Tampa Bay (647) for the most in the Majors…Are currently 3rd in the AL in team AVG (.263), 4th in OBP (.331), 5th in OPS (.752), 6th in SLG (.421), and 6th in extra-base hits (217). The Blue Jays are one of two MLB teams to have scored in every game this season (also: ARI)…Have gone 89 straight games without being shut out, the longest active streak in the Majors (2nd: ARI – 71G)…Is their 3rd-longest such streak in franchise history, and their longest since scoring in 93 consecutive games from April 13-July 15, 1986.
IT’S TREVOR TIME: Trevor Richards will take the hill today for his second start of the season…Threw 3.0 scoreless innings in his last start on June 10 vs. MIN, working around a hit and a walk with seven strikeouts…Needs seven more punchouts to reach 500 for his career.
VS. THE RANGERS: All-Time: 227-216
2023: 1-0 Road: 99-127
Road: 1-0 Globe Life Field: 4-3
The Blue Jays went 4-2 against the Rangers last season, taking two of three in both teams ballparks… Averaged 10 hits and six runs per game, but were outscored, 37-36, over the six contests…Have not lost a season series against Texas since going 3-6 back in 2012.
Danny Jansen recorded multiple hits in all four of his starts against the Rangers last year, going a combined 10-for-16 (.625) with a double, three homers, and five RBI…Has made 12 career starts vs. TEX, batting .442 (19-for-43) with two doubles, six homers, and 11 RBI (1.374 OPS)…His career .907 SLG% vs. TEX is the highest mark among active players (min. 40 PA) against the Rangers, and is his highest against any single opponent (2nd: .725 vs. CWS).
Bo Bichette also notched four multi-hit efforts against the Rangers last season, hitting .385 (10-for-26) with three doubles, a triple, two home runs, and five RBI… Has hit safely in 13 of his 16 career games vs. TEX, going 23-for-67 (.343) with 12 extra-base hits and 11 RBI (1.028 OPS).
George Springer leads all current Blue Jays with 107 career games against the Rangers, batting .262 (112- for-428) with 16 doubles, a triple, 28 home runs, and 65 RBI for a .500 SLG and an .852 OPS.
TEXAS RANGERS NOTES:
WINS AND LOSSES: Texas lost last night to the Jays, now have a 1-4 record on this 7-G, 7-day homestand against LAA (1-3) and TOR (0-1 + 2 G)…Rangers have dropped 2 straight, 5 of 6, and 7 of the last 9 G beg. 6/7, this after a 26-9 (.743) span from 4/28-6/6 in which TEX had MLB’s best record…team is 7-7 in June, and has still won 9 of 17, 13 of 22, 16 of 26, and 24 of last 38 G…team still has a 28-16 (.636) record since 4/28, T2nd-best in MLB (w/ ARI) to only TB (30-17, .638), and TEX has a +88 run differential in that span… TEX is 34-21 in last 55 G and 38-23 last 61 G beg. 4/9.
- At 42-27 (.609), TEX owns the 4th-best record in MLB (TB 51-22, .699; ATL 44-26, .629; BAL 43-26, .623)…club’s 42 wins rank T4th in MLB (51-TB, 44-ATL, 43-BAL, 42-TEX/ARI).
- The 42-27 start is T2nd-best 69-G start to a season in WSH/TEX franchise history (see chart below).
- TEX is 15 G above .500, 5 shy of season high point of 20- over after win 6/6 vs. STL (40-20)…it was team’s most games above .500 since end of 2016 (95-67) and the earliest date/fewest games (6/6 and 60 G) ever to reach that mark.
SERIES STUFF: TEX has lost back-to-back series (1-3 vs. LAA, 6/12-15 and 1-2 at TB, 6/9-11), and would need to win final 2 G this weekend to avoid a 3rd straight series setback…this is the 2nd time in ’23 for TEX to drop 2 series in a row (also 1-2 vs. BAL, 4/3-5 and 1-2 at CHC, 4/7-9)…the 2 straight series losses come on the heels of 6 consecutive series victories from 5/19-6/7 (longest span for team since club-record 10 straight series victories from 5/20-6/20/16)…it also ended a span in which TEX had won a franchise record 6 straight road series.
- The Rangers are 15-6-1 overall in series this year, going 7-3-1 at home and 8-3-0 on the road…team is 11-3-1 in last 15 series and 14-4-1 in last 19…TEX has gone 6-2-1 in last 9 series at GLF.
AT HOME: TEX is 22-13 (.629) at home, T2nd-best home record in A.L. w/ BAL (TB .816, 31-7)…club is 1-5 in last 6 G at home, but has still won 9 of 14, 10 of 16, 14 of 22, and 19 of last 30 at GLF beg. 4/5…TEX is 108-119 all-time record at GLF (2020-23), 28-20 last 48 G here beg. 9/11/22.
- Texas leads MLB with 6.34 R/G at home in 2023, and 222 R are tied for most in Majors (also TB) as Rays have played 3 more home games…club’s 56 HR at home in 2023 are 3rdmost in MLB (62-TB, 61-NYY).
VS. TORONTO: The Rangers dropped 1st meeting of season with the Jays last night, 1st of 2 series in ’23 (also 9/11-13 at TOR)…team finished 2-4 against the Blue Jays in 2022, and have lost 8 of their last 10 G dating back to 7/16/21… TEX has not won a season series against TOR since 2012 (6-3), as Rangers are 0-7-2 in season series vs. Jays beg. 2013…TEX has gone 7-12 vs. TOR since the start of ’19, going 5-5 at home and 2-7 on the road…also 13-17 vs. Jays since 5/28/17.
TAVERAS IS THE TOPS: Leody Taveras’ solo HR in the 3rd inning last night provided the Rangers’ only run in a 2-1 defeat…the effort extended a span in which Taveras has been one of the league’s top performers over the last month-and-a-half since the beginning of May…in 39 G since 5/1, Taveras has batted .336/.390/.550/.940 (47-140) with 7 HR, 7 2B, 1 3B, 24 RBI, and 23 R…he ranks among A.L. qualifiers in that span in BA (1st), OPS (4th), SLG (5th), OBP (6th), leading all Rangers in each of the 4 slash categories…he also sits among A.L. leaders since 5/1 in H (T7th, 47) and TB (T8th, 77).
- Taveras’ HR traveled an estimated 436 feet (Statcast), making it the longest HR of his career and 6th-longest by a Ranger in ’23…his 5 HR in June lead all Rangers, and equal his season HR total from 2022 (also 5 HR).
- Last night was the 1st time for the lone TEX run in a game to come from a solo HR by the 9th-place hitter since 8/17/21 vs. SEA, when Andy Ibañez homered in a 3-1 loss.
QUALITY FOR PÉREZ: Despite another solid performance at Globe Life Field last night, TEX starter Martín Pérez (6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R-ER) took the loss…only runs allowed came on a Danny Jansen 2-R HR in the 5th…marked Pérez’s 1st HR allowed at GLF this season, as he had not surrendered a
HR in a home start since 8/3/22 vs. BAL (Ryan McKenna)… Pérez became the first Texas pitcher to take a loss in a start with 6.0+ IP and 3-or-fewer hits allowed since Mike Foltynewicz (6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R-ER) in a 3-1 defeat on 8/18/21 vs. SEA.
CLOSE CALLS: TEX has dropped 2 straight games by a total of 3 runs, as last night’s 2-1 defeat…since 5/17, 7 of the Rangers’ 11 losses have been by one-or-2 runs, with the club losing by more than 4 runs just once in 27 G in that span (8-3 defeat on 6/9 at TB)…over the Rangers’ current 2-7 span, club’s run differential is just -13 (out-scored 46-to-33)…last night was just the Rangers’ 4th loss in 2023 when holding the opposition to 2-or-fewer runs (4/3 vs. BAL, 4/7 at CHC, 6/7 vs. STL).
SEEKING THE BIG HIT: The Texas offense was 0-for-9 with RISP last night, the 10th time this season to go hitless with RISP, easily the most AB in any of those 10 G (prev. 0-6 w/ RISP on 5/15 vs. ATL)…the Rangers continue to lead MLB with a .318 BA with RISP in 2023, but club’s .179 BA w/ RISP since 6/7 is 5th-lowest in MLB (KC-.119, STL-.160, CWS- .169, MIA-.177).
LET’S TRY A DAY GAME: Texas has a 19-7 (.731) record in day games this season, 2nd-best in MLB to only NYY (19- 6, .760)…club is 9-1 in home day tilts, only loss on 5/3 vs. ARI…Texas batters have slashed .300/.369/.509/.877 with 201 runs and 7.73 R/G in day contests this season, all MLB highs for daytime…TEX has 11+ runs in 4 straight and 6 of 10 home day contests in ’23, batting .421 (48-114) w/ RISP in day tilts at GLF this season.
SEAGER SMOKE: Corey Seager had a 107.9 mph exit velocity on his double last night, and he continues to rank 4th in MLB with an average EV of 94.6, trailing only NYY’s Aaron Judge (97.2), TB’s Yandy Díaz (95.2), and ATL’s Ronald Acuña Jr.
SHORTS: The Rangers’ last outdoor game was on 5/31 at DET, as club has played only at a closed-roof GLF and Tropicana Field in June…TEX has lost each of the last 3 G in which the club received a quality start, including Jon Gray’s CG 1-0 defeat on 6/7 vs. STL…starters have not allowed more than 3 ER in any of the 5 G on this homestand…neither team had a hit w/ RISP last night, combined 0-for-11…TEX has committed multiple errors in just one of the last 45 G beg. 4/27 (2 E’s on 6/12 vs. LAA)…batters have been held to less than 10 hits in 4 straight, 2nd-longest span for the offense in 2023 (6 G, 4/2-8).
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – #33 Dane Dunning, RHP
(5-1, 2.76)
TODAY: The 28-year-old right-hander is scheduled to make his 16th appearance/8th start of the season today in game 2 of 3 against the Blue Jays here at Globe Life Field…ranks among A.L. pitchers with 50.0+ IP this season: GB pct. (8th, 47.8%), ERA (10th, 2.76), opp. OPS (15th, .631)…has made 7 starts since joining the rotation on 5/5, going 3-1, 3.78 (14 ER/38.1 IP) with 13 BB/25 SO…did not factor into the decision for the 3rd time since moving to the rotation in his last start on Mon. vs. LAA…did not surrender a HR in his first 13 G/5 GS (48.0 IP) to open the season…just 14 of 52 hits allowed this season have gone for extra bases (3-HR, 11-2B), and .327 opp. SLG figure is 4th-lowest in A.L…established career highs in many categories last season, ranking 2nd on the Texas staff in starts (29), innings (153.1), and strikeouts (137)…missed time in 2022 for a pair of IL stints: 7/11-25/22 (right ankle impingement) and 9/27/22-end of season (right hip surgery)…had season-ending surgery on 9/26/22 for a right hip labral repair, with the surgery performed by Dr. William Robertson in Arlington…is 14-19 with a 4.16 ERA (150 ER/324.2 IP) for the Rangers over the last 3 seasons (2021-23) since being acquired from the Chicago White Sox in a 3-player trade involving RHP Lance Lynn on 12/8/20…pitched 3 seasons at the University of Florida, helping the Gators to College World Series appearances in both 2015 and 2016…TEX is 3-4 in his 7 starts in 2023.
LAST START: Dunning did not factor into the decision of the Rangers’ 9-6 loss on Mon. vs. LAA (ND, 5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R-ER, 5 BB, 3 SO)…issued a career high-tying 5 walks (2x, also 9/26/21 at BAL), as he threw just 57 of 90 (63.3%) pitches for strikes…exited after the 5th with Texas leading, 5-4, but was removed from the ledger after Shohei Ohtani connected for a game-tying solo home run off Grant Anderson in the 7th inning that leveled the score, 5-5.
VS. TORONTO / A.L. EAST: Owns a career 1-0 record and 4.02 ERA (7 ER/15.2 IP) in 3 games/starts against Toronto…he last faced the Blue Jays in a 4-3 Texas loss on 9/9/22 vs. TOR (ND, 7 H, 3 R-ER, 2 BB, 5 SO, 1 HR)…surrendered a 2-R HR to Bo Bichette in the 3rd inning….owns a 1-0 record with a 3.38 ERA (4 ER/10.2 IP) in 2 starts against the Blue Jays in Arlington, where TOR batters own a .250 BA (10-for-40).
- Has gone 2-4, 3.74 ERA (32 ER/77.0 IP) in 16 games/14 starts against A.L. East foes in his career, but is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA (2 ER/7.1 IP) in 2 games started this season against divisional opponents.
- Dunning was originally drafted by the Blue Jays in the 34th round of the 2013 MLB draft out of Clay High School (Green Cove Springs, FL), but did not sign with the team.
AS A STARTER: Has gone 3-1, 3.29 (14 ER/38.1 IP) in his 7 starts for TEX in ‘23, spanning his last 7 outings…has exited 5 of 7 starts with Texas holding a lead…made 8 straight relief app. to open the year, but a majority of Dunning’s Major League appearances (68 of 78) have come as a starter…he owns a lifetime 14-19 record and 4.31 ERA (163 ER/340.1 IP) in those 68 career starts, with opponents batting .263/.337/.415/.753 (344-1310)…he went 4-8, 4.46 ERA (76 ER/153.1 IP) in 29 starts for Texas in 2022, registering an A.L.-high 17 no-decisions…Dunning’s 61 starts in a Texas uniform over the last 3 seasons (beg. 2021) are the most among Rangers.
AT HOME / GLOBE LIFE FIELD: Dunning is 3-0 with a 3.10 ERA (10 ER/29.0 IP) in 7 games/3 starts in Arlington this season, with Texas going 5-2 in his appearances here…has earned wins 2 of his last 3 starts at home this season (2-0, 4.32 ERA, 8 SO/7 BB)…throughout his career, has seen far better results in his outings at home (13-5, 3.37 ERA in 41 G/36 GS) than on the road (3-14, 5.15 ERA in 37 G/32 GS).
- Owns a lifetime 12-5 record and 3.33 ERA (68 ER/183.2 IP) in 37 games/32 starts at Globe Life Field…he is the facility’s all-time leader (including 2020 postseason) in wins (12), starts (32), innings (183.2), and strikeouts (169).
2023: Opponents have batted .236/.303/.327/.631 (52-220) with 14 extra-base hits (3-HR, 11-2B), incl. opp. BA’s of .226 (21-93) vs. LHB and .244 (31-127) vs. RHB…opp. BA by time thru the order: 1st (.205, 23-112), 2nd (.253, 19-75), 3rd (.303, 10-33)…5 wins are 4th-most on club…20.1 relief innings still rank 7th for TEX…has 3 relief app. of 3.0+ SHO IP…earned win on 4/17 at KC (4.1 SHO IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 5 SO), as he and Jacob deGrom (4.0 SHO IP) became just the 2nd Rangers duo in the last 40 years (beg. 1984) to each have at least 4.0 SHO IP in the same game (also 5.0-Kameron Loe, 4.0-C.J. Wilson on 8/26/05 vs. MIN)…his win on 5/10 at SEA ended a span in which he had gone winless in 27 consecutive road starts with CWS and TEX, the 2nd-longest winless road span as a starter in modern era behind only COL’s Scott Elarton (29 from 2001-05).
