BOSTON RED SOX NOTES:
No team release available.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays edged the Giants in the final contest of their three-game series by a score of 2-1 last night… Improved to 14-12 in series finales…Are now 7-4 in rubber games, having won three straight…Improved to 9-3-0 in home series and are now 16-10-0 in series play for the year, winning each of their last three. Toronto is 16-7 in interleague games this year…The .696 win% is 3rd highest in MLB (MIA – .741; NYY – .706)…Has gone 16-10 over its last 26 games overall and is 19-12 over the last 31…Toronto’s .613 win% over that span (since May 26) is the best in the AL (2nd: TB – .594).
CLOSE CALLS: The Blue Jays are now 13-7 in one-run contests this season…The .650 win% is the best among AL clubs (2nd: BAL – .619).
DAMAGE BEFORE THE DERBY: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. declared yesterday that he would be participating in the 2023 Home Run Derby…Took part in the 2019 event as the youngest participant ever…The then 20-year-old’s 91 home runs on the night were 30 more than any player had ever produced in a single Home Run Derby (Giancarlo Stanton – 61 in 2016). Last night, the two-time All-Star was responsible for the whole of Toronto’s offence, as his two-out, two-run homer in the 6th inning was the difference…His 86 hits are 8th most in the AL while his 51 RBI are 11th most… Has recorded an AL-leading 145 hard-hit balls (95+ MPH) this season (2nd: Bo Bichette – 128)…Now owns a 1.091 OPS with runners on base and two out, 4th best in the AL, min. 50 PA (courtesy Stats Perform).
CHRISP WORK: Chris Bassitt tossed 6.0 shutout innings last night, scattering three singles and three walks while recording a career-high 12 strikeouts (previous: 11, 2x)…Tied a franchise record with nine strikeouts through the first four innings…Marked his 6th scoreless start of the season, matching Michael Wacha for the
most among MLB hurlers (non-openers)…Did not allow an extra-base hit for the 2nd time this year (also: May 17 vs. NYY)…In eight starts at Rogers Centre this season, has gone 4-1 with a 2.41 ERA (14 ER/52.1 IP), 54 strikeouts, a 0.84 WHIP, and a .148 opponents average…Marked his 11th quality start, tied for 4th most in the AL.
A DYNAMIC DUO: Chris Bassitt and Kevin Gausman each have six games with 6+ innings pitched and no earned runs allowed this season…According to Elias Sports, only one other pair of teammates has done so before July since earned runs became official in 1913: Dutch Leonard and Rube Foster of the 1914 Red Sox.
ROMANO-MATIC: Jordan Romano picked up his 24th save last night, tying him with Cleveland’s Emmanuel Clase for the most in MLB. The Markham, ON, native’s 24 saves are also tied with B.J. Ryan (2006) for the most saves before the All-Star break in team history.
HOME WORK: The Blue Jays are on a nine-game, 10-day homestand (4-2 so far)…Have gone 23-15 this season at Rogers Centre…The .605 win% at home is 4th best in the AL… After this series with the Red Sox, will head out on a six-game trip to take on the White Sox (36-47) and the Tigers (35-45) into the All-Star Break. Toronto batters rank 4th in the AL in home AVG (.263), 4th in home OBP (.334), 7th in home SLG (.414), and 7th in home OPS (.748)…The pitching staff ranks 1st among all MLB teams with 3.24 home ERA, a .210 home opponents’ average, and a 1.11 home WHIP.
BEEN BERRÍ GOOD LATELY: José Berríos gets the ball tonight, coming off a 6.0- inning effort last Saturday vs. Oakland…Allowed three runs (two earned) with six hits, two walks, and eight strikeouts…Over his last 14 starts, has gone 8-3 with a 2.74 ERA (26 ER/85.1 IP) and a 1.15 WHIP. The Blue Jays have won 21 of his last 24 starts at Rogers Centre, dating back to 2021…The club has gone 39-21 in his 60 starts since joining the team at the 2021 trade deadline, one win off a franchise best.
STARTING SOMETHING: Toronto pitchers have now combined for 40 quality starts, tied with Houston and Seattle for the most in the Majors…The starting rotation ranks 3rd in the Majors in strikeouts (466), 4th in innings pitched (450.1), 7th in ERA (3.94), 11th in AVG (.242), and 13th in WHIP (1.27).
OFFENSIVE THINGS: Toronto batters have notched 742 hits this season, 3rd most in the Majors…Are currently 3rd in the AL in team AVG (.263), 4th in OBP (.329), 4th in OPS (.749), 5th in extra-base hits (254), and 5th in SLG (.420).
VS. THE RED SOX: All-Time: 320-386
2023: 0-4 Home: 154-194
Home: 0-0 Rogers Centre: 119-145
The Blue Jays last met the Red Sox at Fenway Park in May and were swept in that four-game series… Surrendered 13+ hits and 6+ runs in each of the four contests…Went 16-3 vs. Boston last year, their most wins vs. a single opponent in a season all-time (15 vs. BAL in 2002 and 2010), including an 8-2 record here at Rogers Centre.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had hits in all four games in Boston earlier this year, going 7-for-18 (.389) with a pair of doubles, a pair of home runs, and five RBI (.833 SLG)…In 66 career meetings, is 75-for-285 (.291) with 18 doubles, 13 home runs, and 56 RBI for a .512 SLG and an .882 OPS.
Bo Bichette went 7-for-16 (.438) in the prior series at Fenway Park, including a double, a homer, four RBI, and two walks (.500 OBP)…Has batted .333 (64-for192) with 14 doubles, seven home runs, and 36 RBI over 47 career contests vs. Boston (.903 OPS).
George Springer went 27-for-71 (.380) with six extra-base hits and 16 RBI in his 18 games vs. BOS last season…Holds a lifetime .315 (70-for-222) average in
57 games against the Red Sox, with nine doubles, three triples, 13 homers, and 42 RBI (.962 OPS).
STARTING PITCHER – JOSE BERRIOS #17 RHP
TODAY’S GAME:
Making his 17th start of the season and his 7th at Rogers Centre…Picked up his 8th win of the year his last time out, on 6/24 vs. OAK, giving up 3R/2ER over 6.0 innings (6H, 2BB, 8K). Over his last 14 starts, has gone 8-3 with a 2.74 ERA (26 ER/85.1 IP), 75 strikeouts, and a 1.15 WHIP…The 2.74 ERA is the 4th-lowest mark among AL pitchers over that span (since 4/14). The Blue Jays own a 21-3 record in Berríos’ last 24 starts at Rogers Centre, dating back to 2021.
2023 HIGHLIGHTS:
Improved to 7-4 on the year 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 seasonh-igh 7.2 innings of shutout ball (3H, BB, HBP, 5K)…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. 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 1 run or fewer in a 3rd 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. 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. Picked up his 1st win of the year on 4/14 vs. TB, tossing 5.0 innings of one-run ball with 4 hits, no walks, and 6 strikeouts…Was removed from the game with a left knee contusion after being hit by a comebacker from Yandy Díaz.
