TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays led the Rangers, 6-0, in the 3rd inning on Sunday before surrendering eight straight runs and losing by an eventual 11-7 final score…Marked their largest blown lead (in a loss) since squandering a seven-run cushion on July 28, 2019 vs. TB…Dropped their third straight series, moving to 13-10-0 in series play this season (6-7-0 on the road). Toronto has lost six of its last nine games, but has still gone 10-7 over its last 17 games and 13-9 over the last 22…With a win tonight, can improve to 14-10 in series openers this year.
HOT START, HORWITZ: Spencer Horwitz made his MLB debut on Sunday afternoon in Arlington, going 1-for-2 with an RBI and a pair of walks…Notched his first career MLB hit by singling off Rangers starter Jon Gray in the top of the 2nd inning…Drove in his first MLB run the next inning with an RBI groundout…Became the fourth player in franchise history to record a hit, a walk, an RBI, and a run scored in his MLB debut, joining Devon Travis (April 6, 2015 at NYY), Eric Thames (May 18, 2011 vs. TB), and Eric Hinske (April 1, 2002 at BOS).
SPRINGING INTO ACTION: George Springer singled twice yesterday, finishing the game 2-for-4 with an RBI, a walk, and a stolen base…Marked his 20th multi-hit effort of the season. Since May 19th, the Connecticut native has gone 35- for-111 (.315) with eight doubles, a triple, five home runs, 12 RBI, and 12 walks during his 29 contests… Over that span, ranks T-3rd among AL hitters in times on base (48), T-5th in total bases (60), 7th in OPS (.928), and 10th in OBP (.387).
WE’RE GOING STREAKING: Whit Merrifield went 1-for-4 on Sunday with two RBI and a walk, extending his hitting streak to a season-high-tying 10 games…Has gone 13-for-36 (.361) over that stretch with a pair of doubles and four RBI (.856 OPS)…Became the 5th player in the Majors
this season with multiple hitting streaks of at least 10 games. Since May 19th, is hitting .363 (37-for-102) with six doubles, a homer, 12 RBI, and nine walks (.425 OBP, .876 OPS) in 29 games…Over that span, ranks 5th in the Majors in batting average…On the season, sits 4th in the AL in AVG (.305) and T-5th in stolen bases (18).
TWICE THE FUN: Bo Bichette plated a pair of runs with a double in the 2nd inning yesterday, his 16th two-bagger of the season…Doubled in five straight games, becoming the 3rd Major Leaguer to do so this season (Bryan Reynolds – 6G, Ryan Mountcastle – 5G)…The only longer double streak in his career was a franchisebest nine-gamer in his rookie season (July 31-Aug. 8, 2019), which began in his 3rd career MLB game. The shortstop currently leads MLB in hits (98)…His .315 batting average ranks 2nd in the AL (6th in MLB), while he sits 2nd in total bases (158), 6th in SLG (.508), 7th in OPS (.855), T-7th in XBH (31), T-9th in home runs (14), and 10th in RBI (46).
BERRÍ, BERRÍ GOOD: José Berríos will take the hill for his 15th start of the season tonight…The 29-year old has recorded eight quality starts this season, five of which have come in his last six games…Has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his last eight outings…Over his last 12 starts, has gone 7-2 with a 2.27 ERA (19 ER/75.1 IP) and a 1.08 WHIP…His ERA over that span (since April 14) ranks 3rd among MLB pitchers.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Blue Jays are off on a three-city, nine-day road trip (2-4 so far)…Own a 20-21 road record this season for a .488 win% (7th in the AL)…After this trio of games against the Marlins, will have an off-day on Thursday before heading home for a nine-game homestand against the Athletics, Giants, and Red Sox. Blue Jays hitters lead the Majors in road AVG (.264)…Rank 1st among AL clubs in road hits (382), 2nd in road SLG (.431), 2nd in road OPS (.760), and 3rd in road OBP (.329)…The pitching staff ranks 11th in the AL in road ERA (4.47), 12th in road opponents’ AVG (.262), and 14th in road WHIP (1.39).
INTERTAINMENT: Toronto is playing its 7th interleague series of the year…Has gone 12-5 vs. NL clubs so far…The .706 win% is tied for 2nd best among MLB teams (1st: MIA – .762)…Led the AL with 13 interleague wins last season, which was one off the franchise’s all-time single-season record (14 in 2021)…Since the beginning of the 2021 campaign, Toronto’s .684 win% in Interleague Play (39-18) is the best among all MLB clubs (2nd: TB – .656). The Blue Jays have hit 661 home runs all-time in Interleague Play, the most among all 30 teams (2nd: NYY – 635).
LAYING OFF THE DONUTS: The Blue Jays have notched 664 hits this season, behind only Texas (675) for the most in the Majors… Are currently 2nd in the AL in team AVG (.263), 4th in OBP (.332), 5th in OPS (.750), 6th in SLG (.419), and 6th in extra-base hits (220). The Blue Jays are one of two MLB teams to have scored in every game this season (also: ARI)…Have gone 91 straight games without being shut out, the longest active streak in the Majors (2nd: ARI – 73G)…Is their longest such streak since scoring in 93 consecutive games from April 13-July 15, 1986.
VS. THE MARLINS: All-Time: 17-21
2023: 0-0 Road: 9-10
Road: 0-0 loanDepot Park: 7-3
The Blue Jays last met the Marlins in 2021, sweeping both two-game series in Toronto and Miami… Have won each of the last five meetings between these teams, surrendering just a single run on four occasions…Are 13-4 over the last 17 games vs. MIA. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit safely in all four games against the Marlins in 2021, going 8-for-15 (.533) with a double, a triple, a home run, and four RBI (1.522 OPS)…Has met Miami eight times in his career, batting .414 (12-for-29) with four extra-base hits and five RBI for a .452 OBP and a 1.176 OPS).
Bo Bichette has met Miami six times in his career, going 10-for-24 (.417) with a triple, two homers, and seven RBI…Recorded his first of three career five-hit games on Aug. 12, 2020 vs. MIA, going a perfect 5-for-5 with a solo homer and a walk.
Kevin Kiermaier owns an .811 OPS against the Fish in 34 career meetings, notching nine doubles, two triples, and 16 RBI…Hit a leadoff, inside-the-park home run on the 1st pitch vs. MIA last season on May 24th…Became the 3rd player since pitch-tracking data was available (1988) to do so (Span on Aug 19, 2017 vs. PHI & Buxton on Oct 2, 2016 at CHW).
STARTING PITCHER – José Berríos, RHP #17
TODAY’S GAME: Making his 15th start of the season and his 10th on the road…Improved to 7-4 on the year his last time out, on 6/14 at BAL, taking a no-hitter into the 7th inning before allowing a leadoff single to Adley Rutschman…Marked the longest no-hit bid by a Blue Jay since Ross Stripling also tossed 6.0 hitless innings on 8/17/22 vs. BAL…Finished the game with a season-high 7.2 innings of shutout ball, scattering 3 hits, a walk, and a hit batter with 5 strikeouts on 90 pitches (62 strikes)…Improved to a perfect 10-0 lifetime against the O’s (13 starts), joining Jon Lester (14-0) and Red Faber (12-0) as the only pitchers in MLB history to win each of his first 10 career decisions against Orioles/Browns franchise. Over his last 12 starts, has gone 7-2 with a 2.27 ERA (19 ER/75.1 IP), 63 strikeouts, and a 1.08 WHIP…The 2.27 ERA is the 3rd-lowest mark among MLB pitchers over that span (since 4/14). Has made 154 starts since the beginning of 2018, tied for the 3rd most among MLB hurlers (Aaron Nola – 158, Gerrit Cole – 155).
2023 HIGHLIGHTS:
Won his 6th game of the year on 6/8 vs. HOU, tossing 6.0 innings of 2-run ball (4H, 2BB, 2K)…Marked his 7th quality start of the season. Took a no-decision on 6/3 at NYM, throwing 6.0 innings of one-run ball with 4 hits, 3 walks, and 6 strikeouts…Allowed one run or fewer in a third
straight outing. Pitched 5.2 frames of shutout ball on 5/28 at MIN (4H, 5BB, 5K)…Became the winningest pitcher in Target Field history, earning his 33rd career victory to break a tie with Kyle Gibson (32). Tossed 7.0 frames of one-run ball on 5/23 at TB, scattering 5 hits and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts…Was his 5th quality start of the year and his 3rd in the last 4 games. Took the loss on 5/18 vs. NYY, giving up 3 runs on 6 hits and a walk over 6.2 frames with 8 strikeouts. Took a no-decision on 5/13 vs. ATL, giving up 2 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks over 5.2 innings with 3 strikeouts. Improved to 3-3 on the year on 5/6 at PIT, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits and a walk over 6.1 frames with 7 strikeouts. Worked 7.0 shutout frames on 4/25 vs. CWS, scattering 4 singles and a walk with a season-high 9 strikeouts…Completed 7.0 innings in consecutive starts for the 13th time in his career (last: 3G from 6/4-15/22)…Has allowed 3 runs over his last 3 starts, posting a 1.42 ERA (3 ER/19.0 IP) with a pair of walks and 18 punchouts. Took the loss on 4/19 at HOU, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk over 7.0 frames with 3 strikeouts…Was his 1st quality start of the year.
MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:
No team release available.
