TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:

THE LATEST: The Blue Jays were unable to muster any hits or runs in their middle match against the Tigers yesterday, losing by a 2-0 final…Were no-hit for the 7th time in franchise history and the 1st time since Sept. 1, 2019 vs. HOU… Were blanked for the 4th time this year, tied for the 2nd-fewest shutouts among American League clubs, trailing only the Angels (3)…Moved to 3-2 against the Tigers and 15-6 vs. AL Central opponents this season. Toronto has gone 20-14 over its last 34 games and is 23-16 over the last 39…Toronto’s .590 win% over that span (since May 26) is the 2nd-best mark in the AL (1st: CLE – .600)…With a win today, can improve to 18-11-0 in series play and 8-4 in rubber games.

GAUS AND EFFECT: Kevin Gausman tossed 6.0 innings of two-run ball on Saturday, scattering five hits and a pair of walks with seven strikeouts…Marked his 14th quality start of the year, matching Marcus Stroman and George Kirby for the most among MLB hurlers…His 153 strikeouts lead all AL pitchers, behind only Spencer
Strider (166) for the MLB lead…Tops the Majors with a 2.45 FIP (2nd: Sonny Gray – 2.78)…Also ranks 1st in the AL in K rate (32.6%), 3rd in innings pitched (115.2), 4th in SO/BB (5.28), and 7th in ERA (3.03). The Centennial, CO, native has racked up more strikeouts than any other Blue Jay before the All-Star break, 13 more than Roger Clemens in 1997…His 2.45 FIP is the 4th-best mark before the Midsummer Classic in team history, trailing only himself (1.75 in 2022), Juan Guzman (2.32 in 1992), and Duane Ward (2.41 in 1989).

NASTY NATE: Nate Pearson pitched 1.2 frames of scoreless relief yesterday, issuing a walk with two punchouts… Lowered his season ERA to 3.69 (13 ER/31.2 IP)…
Has gone ER-free in 19 of his 25 appearances this season, keeping a 1.07 WHIP with 32 strikeouts while holding hitters to a .220 AVG…Has also thrown the hardest pitch by a Blue Jay in the Statcast Era (since 2008) this season (101.9 mph on June 15 at BAL), and has averaged 98.0 mph on his fourseamer, the 6thhighest mark among AL relievers (min. 300 pitches).

CHRISP BASSITT: Chris Bassitt gets the start this afternoon, coming off 6.0 innings of three-run ball last Tuesday at CWS… Allowed six hits with a walk and five strikeouts for his 12th quality start of the year, T-5th among AL hurlers. The righty currently ranks 10th in the Junior Circuit with 105.2 innings pitched…The Blue Jays are one of just three MLB teams to boast a trio of players with at least 100 innings under their belt this season (Gausman – 115.2, Berríos – 108.0, Bassitt – 105.2).

BICHETTE CONTINUES TO HAPPEN: Bo Bichette continues to lead the AL in hits (122) and AVG (.320) this season…Has the most hits before the All-Star break in franchise history (2nd: Vernon Wells – 121 in 2003). The shortstop has won multiple hit titles, had a 25+ HR season, and has multiple All-Star nods, just the 4th player in MLB history to accomplish these feats before turning 26, joining Hank Aaron, Don Mattingly, and Joe Medwick.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Blue Jays are at the end of a six-game, AL Central road trip (4-1 so far)…Own a 26-23 road record this season for a .531 win%, 5th in the AL…Are wrapping up the unofficial first half of the season with this trio of games in Detroit before heading into the All-Star Break. Blue Jays hitters rank 3rd among AL clubs in road AVG (.261), 5th in road OBP (.325), 5th in road SLG (.420), and 5th in road OPS (.745)…The pitching staff ranks 10th in the AL in road ERA (4.26), 11th in road WHIP (1.34), and 13th in road opponents’ AVG (.260).

STARTING SOMETHING: Toronto pitchers have now combined for 44 quality starts, T-3rd most in the Majors…The starting rotation ranks 3rd in MLB in strikeouts (518), 5th in innings pitched (495.2), 8th in ERA (3.96), 9th in AVG (.242), and 12th in WHIP (1.26).

HITTING IT: Toronto batters have notched 805 hits this season, 3rd most in the AL…Are also currently 3rd in the AL in team AVG (.260), 5th in OBP (.327), 5th in OPS (.743), 6th in SLG (.416), and 6th in extra-base hits (274). Toronto’s offence has racked up 10+ hits on 34 occasions this season, 5th most among AL teams…Since 2021, have racked up an MLB-high 172 double-digit hit games (2nd: BOS – 160).

THE D-JAYS: According to Sports Info Solutions, Toronto fielders have recorded a total of 44 Defensive Runs Saved, the most in the Majors (2nd: TEX – 40)…The group is led by an MLB-high 23 runs saved in center field, 13 more than any other team (LAA – 10)…Among all MLB fielders, Daulton Varsho sits 2nd with 15 runs saved (9 in CF, 7 in LF) while Kevin Kiermaier is T-3rd with a CF-best 14 DRS…Alejandro Kirk is in a three-way tie for the most runs saved by catchers (8).

VS. THE TIGERS: All-Time: 244-207
2023: 3-2 Road: 112-110
Road: 1-1 Comerica Park: 41-35

The Blue Jays took two of three from the Tigers in Toronto’s Home Opening series at Rogers Centre in April…Toronto’s pitching has allowed three runs or fewer in each meeting this season…The Blue Jays went 5-2 against the Tigers last year and have not lost a season series vs. DET since 2018 (3-4).

Alejandro Kirk has gone 3-for-11 (.273) against the Tigers this season, notching a homer and five RBI…In 14 career meetings vs. DET, has batted .273 (12-for44) with three doubles, two home runs, and 10 RBI (.823 OPS).

Matt Chapman has picked up multiple hits in three of his last five games against the Tigers…Over 29 career games vs. DET, has gone 25-for-106 (.236) with three doubles, two triples, 12 home runs, and 20 RBI for a .642 SLG and a .999 OPS.

Whit Merrrifield leads all current Blue Jays with 105 games played vs. DET, batting .332 (142-for-428) while recording 35 doubles, seven triples, 12 home runs, and 56 RBI along the way (.899 OPS)…The 142 knocks are his most against any single opponent in his career.

STARTING PITCHER – Chris Bassitt, RHP #40

TODAY’S GAME: Making his 19th start of the season and his 11th on the road…Took a no-decision his last time out, on 7/4 at CWS, giving up 3 runs over 6.0 innings of work (6H, BB, 5K). Has 6 starts of at least 6.0 scoreless innings this year, tied with Michael Wacha for the most in MLB…Is also tied with Roger Clemens (1997) for the most such starts before the All-Star break in team history. Has held opposing RHH to a .179 AVG, trailing only James Paxton (.171) for the best mark in the Majors.

2023 HIGHLIGHTS: \Won his 8th game of the year on 6/29 vs. SF, tossing 6.0 shutout innings with 3 hits, 3 walks, and a career-high 12 strikeouts…Tied a franchise
record with 9 strikeouts through the first 4.0 innings. Picked up the win on 6/7 vs. HOU, tossing 8.0 frames of 2-run ball with 4 hits, no walks, and 5 strikeouts on just 81 pitches (58 strikes)…Marked his 10th quality start of the year. Earned his 6th win of the year on 6/2 at NYM, throwing 7.2 frames of shutout ball with 3 hits, no walks, and 8 strikeouts…Returned home immediately after his start for the birth of his son, Colson, and was placed on the Paternity List from 6/3-6/5.
Allowed 6 runs (2 earned) across 6.1 frames of work on 5/22 at TB…Had his career-best scoreless innings streak ended at 28.0…Marked the 2ndlongest single-season streak in franchise history (Roger Clemens: 33.0 IP from 8/15-9/5/98), and the 3rd-longest overall (Dave Stieb: 34.0 IP from 9/13/88-4/5/89). Tossed 7.0 shutout innings on 5/17 vs. NYY, giving up 3 hits, a walk, and a hit batter with 7 strikeouts…Became just the 4th non-opener in Blue Jays history to throw 3 consecutive scoreless starts in a single season, joining Roger Clemens (1998), Al Leiter (1995), and Dave Stieb (1988). Threw a complete game shutout on 5/12 vs. ATL, the 2nd CG SO of his career (also: 5/27/21 vs. LAA), and the 1st nine-inning complete game shutout by a Blue Jay since Mark Buehrle on 6/3/15 at WAS…Scattered 2 hits, 2 walks, and 2 hit batters while striking out a season-high 8 on 103 pitches (70 strikes).

DETROIT TIGERS NOTES:

TIGERS THROW FIRST COMBINED NO-HITTER IN FRANCHISE HISTORY: Matt Manning, Alex Lange and Jason Foley notched the first combined no-hitter in franchise history as the Tigers defeated the Blue Jays, 2-0. Manning started and threw 6.2 innings with three walks and five strikeouts. Foley worked a perfect 1.1 innings with one punchout, while Lange closed out the no-no with a strikeout in a perfect ninth. Offensively, Riley Greene reached base in all four plate appearances, going 2×2 with a run scored and two walks. Spencer Torkelson and Kerry Carpenter each drove in a run in the first inning with Torkelson hitting a RBI double and Carpenter ripping a run-scoring triple.

NOTES ON THE COMBINED NO-NO: Yesterday marked the Tigers first combined no-hitter in franchise history and their ninth no-hitter overall. It was also the 20th combined no-no in Major League history. Below are some notes on the accomplishment:

• The performance was the first Tigers no-hitter since Spencer Turnbull on May 18, 2021 at Seattle. Eric Haase, who was behind the plate for yesterday’s combined no-no, was also the catcher for Turnbull’s no-hitter.
• According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Haase is the first catcher in Tigers history to be behind the plate for multiple no-hitters and the 61st backstop in MLB history to do so.
• Yesterday marked the second no-hitter thrown at Comerica Park (other, Justin Verlander on June 12, 2007 vs. Milwaukee). It was also the second time the Tigers have no-hit the Blue Jays (other, Justin Verlander on May 7, 2011 at Toronto).

GREENE MACHINE: Riley Greene returned to the Tigers lineup yesterday and picked up where he left off, going 2×2 with a run scored and two walks. Dating back to April 26, Greene has hit safely in 26 of his last 31 games, over which he is batting .361/.437/.529 with nine doubles, a triple, three home runs and 12 RBI.

2023 MLB DRAFT BEGINS TONIGHT: The 2023 Major League Baseball Draft begins tonight at 7 p.m. on ESPN and MLB Network. The Tigers will have three selections tonight, picking at No. 3, 37 and 45. The draft continues tomorrow with rounds 3-10 and concludes on Tuesday with rounds 11-20.

TIGERS AND BLUE JAYS: The Tigers and Blue Jays conclude their season series this afternoon. Toronto has won three of the first five meetings against Detroit this season. The Tigers went 2-5 against the Blue Jays last season, including a 1-2 record at Comerica Park.

AT COMERICA PARK: The Tigers are 2-3 on their current six-game homestand, which includes three games vs. Oakland (1-2) and three games vs. Toronto (1-1). Detroit is 20-24 at Comerica Park this season. The Tigers are hitting .240/.312/.373 as a team at home, while the pitching staff has a 4.54 ERA (404.0IP/204ER).

ON DECK: After today’s game, the Tigers return to action on Friday as they open a seven-game road trip, which starts with three games against the Mariners. The two teams played earlier this season at Comerica Park, with Seattle winning two-of-three games. The Tigers went 1-6 against the Mariners last season, including dropping three-of-four games in Seattle.

TIGERS ON THE IL:

• LHP Tyler Alexander (left lat/shoulder strain, 60-day IL on July 4, retroactive to July 3)
• LHP Matthew Boyd (left elbow sprain, 60-day IL on June 27)
• OF Austin Meadows (anxiety, 60-day IL on April 8, retroactive to April 7)
• RHP Casey Mize (right elbow sprain, 60-day IL on February 17)
• RHP Freddy Pacheco (right elbow sprain, 60-day IL on March 27)
• RHP Spencer Turnbull (neck discomfort, 60-day IL on May 12, retroactive to May 7)
• RHP Will Vest (right lower leg strain, 15-day IL on June 27)
• RHP Trey Wingenter (right biceps tendinitis, 60-day IL on April 22, retroactive to April 19)

TODAY’S TIGERS STARTING PITCHER

29 Tarik Skubal • 0-0, 0.00 ERA (4.0IP/0ER)

• Skubal will make his second start of the season for the Tigers today in the series finale vs. Toronto.
• Made his season debut for Detroit on Tuesday against Oakland, throwing 4.0 hitless innings with no walks and six strikeouts…his only baserunner came on a hit by pitch…marked his first start in the Majors since August 1, 2022 vs. Minnesota.
• Has faced the Blue Jays just once in his career, taking the loss on June 12, 2022 after giving up four runs on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts in 4.0 innings…in 31 appearances, including 29 starts, at Comerica Park, he has a 9-12 record with a 3.37 ERA (162.2IP/61ER) and 160 strikeouts.
• Made five injury rehab starts between Single A West Michigan and Triple A Toledo, allowing five runs, only two earned, on nine hits with three walks and 20 strikeouts in 14.2 innings.
• Started 21 games for the Tigers last season and had a 7-8 record with a 3.52 ERA (117.2IP/46ER) and 117 strikeouts.