TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays were outhit, 15-5, en route to a 6-1 loss at the hands of the Orioles on Thursday…Moved to 20-15 in series finales and 21-14-0 in series play this year (11-6-0 at home). Toronto has still won six of its last 11 games, 15 of its last 25, and is 34-25 over its last 59 contests…Its .576 win% over that span (since May 26) is tied with Baltimore for the highest mark in the AL…Is currently holding the 3rd Wild Card spot, 2.0 games back of Houston (62-48) for the 2nd spot, and 2.0 games up on Boston.
TWO-HIT WHIT: Whit Merrifield recorded a pair of singles yesterday, going 2-for-4 for his 30th multi-hit game of the season (T-15th in the AL)…Since his big league debut in 2016, has notched 318 multi-hit games, trailing only José Abreu (338) and Jose Altuve (327) for the most in the American League. The three-time All-Star has reached base safely in 23 of his last 24 contests with a plate appearance while hitting .347 (34-for-98) with three doubles, seven home runs, and 20 RBI for a .957 OPS with 12 multihit efforts…Is now batting .299 on the season, good for 7th among AL hitters (11th in MLB), while his 21 stolen bases are 9th most.
HEART & HUSTLE: Daulton Varsho was named the Blue Jays’ winner of the 2023 Heart and Hustle Award yesterday…The award honours active players who demonstrate a passion for the game of baseball and best embody the values, spirit, and traditions of the game…The 27-year old was also Arizona’s winner of the Heart and Hustle Award a season ago. The outfielder picked up his 9th assist of the year on Thursday, throwing out Austin Hays at home plate to end the 2nd inning…According to Sports Info Solutions, the Marshfield, WI, native leads all Major Leaguers with 18 Defensive Runs Saved, with 10 as a centerfielder and eight while playing in left field… The 18 DRS are one shy of his total from last season, which were tied with Michael A. Taylor for the most in MLB.
KIRK CLICKING: Alejandro Kirk picked up a single in the 9th inning yesterday…Has hit safely in seven of his last eight starts, going 14-for-30 (.467) with a double, three homers, and six RBI (1.329)…Has raised his season batting average by 27 points since July 20th (from .230-.257).
ALEK IN ACTION: Alek Manoah takes the hill tonight for his 18th start of the year…Pitched 4.1 innings of one-run ball last Saturday against the Angels (4H, 3BB, 6K)…In four starts since being recalled, has gone 1-1 with a 4.34 ERA (9 ER/18.2 IP) while holding hitters to a .211 AVG (12BB, 20K). The 25-year-old has made seven career starts against the Red Sox, posting a 4-1 record and a 1.71 ERA (8 ER/42.0 IP) with a 1.02 WHIP…The 1.71 ERA is the lowest career mark by any player versus Boston since 1920 (min. seven starts).
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Blue Jays are kicking off a seven-game, seven-day road trip…Own a 30-26 road record this season for a .536 win%, 3rd best in the AL…Have won 10 of their last 14 road games, the best road record in the Majors since June 20th (.714)…After this weekend trio of games in Boston, will head to Cleveland for a four-game set starting on Monday. Blue Jays hitters rank 2nd among AL clubs in road AVG (.261), 3rd in road OBP (.328), 3rd in road OPS (.752), and 4th in road SLG (.423)…The pitching staff ranks 9th in the AL in road ERA (4.23), 10th in road WHIP (1.34), and 13th in road opponents’ AVG (.258).
BOTTOM’S UP: Kevin Kiermaier singled and scored Toronto’s lone run on Thursday…Has recorded 63 hits while batting 9th, the most in the AL and 2nd most in the Majors (1st: Michael Harris II – 66).
MILLIONS ON MY MIND: The Blue Jays welcomed in 42,672 fans to Rogers Centre on Thursday afternoon, eclipsing two million patrons for the season, the 3rd AL team to do so… Rank 3rd in the AL with an average home attendance of 37,092 this year, their highest since 2017 (39,554).
PITCHING IN: Toronto pitchers have combined for a 3.83 ERA this season, 4th among AL teams (5th in MLB)…Are 2nd in MLB with 1,049 strikeouts (MIN – 1,056)…Rank 8th in the AL in opponents’ average (.243) and 8th in WHIP (1.27)…The rotation has 51 quality starts, T-3rd most in the AL (T-4th in MLB).
HITTING IT: Toronto batters have notched 973 hits this season, 4th most in MLB…Are currently 3rd in the AL in team AVG (.258), 4th in OBP (.328), 5th in OPS (.743), 7th in SLG (.414), and 7th in extra-base hits (329).
DIVISIONAL DOWNTURN: The Blue Jays have now gone 8-23 against divisional opponents this season (5th among AL East clubs), the 3rd fewest intra-division wins in MLB (OAK – 5, COL – 7)…The .258 divisional win% is currently the lowest in team history (.282 in 1979)…Went 43-33(.566%) in divisional play in 2022, the 2nd-best winning percentage within the division and the club’s best since registering a .581 win% in 2006 (43-31).
VS. THE RED SOX: All-Time: 320-389
2023: 0-7 Road: 166-192
Road: 0-4 Fenway Park: 166-192
The Blue Jays are 0-7 vs. Boston so far this season… Were swept in their three-game series at Rogers Centre over Canada Day, and swept in a four-gamer in Boston in May…Have only had one longer losing streak against the Red Sox in team history, dropping 11 in a row from April 16-July 11, 2002.
Daulton Varsho has gone 8-for-24 (.333) in seven career games vs. BOS, all coming this season…Has notched a double, two homers, and five RBI (.995 OPS), as well as a trio of multi-hit games in Beantown.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has registered an .874 OPS against the Red Sox this season, batting .276 (8-for29) with two doubles, two homers, and six RBI…In 69 career games vs. BOS, has gone 76-for-269 (.283) with 18 doubles, 13 homers, and 57 RBI (.859 OPS).
Whit Merrifield has batted .361 (53-for-147) in 37 career meetings with the BoSox, the highest mark among active players in the Majors (min. 150 PA)… has recorded 13 doubles, four homers, and 17 RBI over that stretch for a .923 OPS.
STARTING PITCHER – Alek Manoah, RHP #6
TODAY’S GAME:
Making his 18th start of the season and his 9th on the road…Gave up one run over 4.1 innings his last time out, on 7/29 vs. LAA, surrendering 4 hits with 3 walks and 6 strikeouts. Owns a 3.92 ERA (18 ER/41.1 IP) in 8 road starts this year, compared to an 8.15 ERA (32 ER/35.1 IP) in 9 games at Rogers Centre. Since entering the league in 2021, has held opposing righthanded hitters to a .183 AVG, the 6th-best mark among qualified hurlers.
2023 HIGHLIGHTS:
Took a no-decision on 7/23 at SEA, giving up 3 runs over 5.1 frames with 3 hits, 4 walks, and 6 strikeouts. Picked up his 2nd win of the year on 7/7 at DET in his return from the minors…Threw 6.0 frames of one-run ball with 5 hits, no walks, and a season-high 8 strikeouts. Made a start with Double-A New Hampshire on 7/2 vs. POR, tossing 5.0 innings of one-run ball with 3H, 3BB, and 10K. Took the loss on 5/3 at BOS, giving up 5R/2ER over 5.0 innings with 8 hits, a walk, and 3 strikeouts on a season-high 103 pitches (63 strikes). Threw 7.0 shutout frames on 4/22 at NYY, scattering just 2 hits and a walk with 5 strikeouts…Was his 2nd outing with 7.0 scoreless innings this season (also: 4/5 at KC). Took a no-decision in the team’s Home Opener on 4/11 vs. DET, giving up 3 runs on 4 hits and 5 walks over 4.1 innings with 3 strikeouts…Became the 5th pitcher in team history to pitch the club’s Season Opener and then their Home Opener, joining Jim Clancy (1981), Jimmy Key (1989), Marcus Stroman (2016), and Hyun Jin Ryu (2020). Earned his 1st win of the year on 4/5 at KC, tossing 7.0 frames of one-hit, shutout ball with four walks and five strikeouts. Was the Opening Day starter for the Blue Jays on 3/30 at STL…Took a no-decision that day, giving up 5 runs on a career-high 9 hits and 2 walks over 3.1 innings with 3 strikeouts… At 25 years and 80 days old, became the 4th-youngest Opening Day starter in team history (Drew Hutchison – 24.227 in 2015; Todd Stottlemyre – 24.324 in 1990; Marcus Stroman 24.338 in 2016).
BOSTON RED SOX NOTES:
STATE OF THE SOX: The Red Sox have lost 4 of their last 5 games…They’re 6-4 in their last 10 and 8-7 in their last 15. The Sox still own MLB’s best record since 6/30 (17-9) and the AL’s best since 6/14 (24-16). At 57-51 (.528), Boston owns MLB’s 12th-best record.
BACK TO THE GRIND: Tonight begins the Red Sox’ season-long 10-game homestand (3 vs. TOR, 4 vs. KC, 3 vs. DET). The Red Sox are currently in a stretch of 32 games
in 34 days, from 7/28-8/30…They will only have 1 day off (8/14) in a 27-day span from 8/4-30. After their off day on 8/14, the Sox will play a game n 16 consecutive days from 8/15-30.
SOX & JAYS: The Red Sox have won each of their 7 games vs. TOR this season, their longest winning streak against the Jays since 2002 (11 games, 4/16-7/11/02). The Sox swept the Blue Jays in a 4-game series at Fenway Park from 5/1-4 and a 3-game series at Rogers Centre from 6/30-7/2. BOS has outscored TOR this season, 49-29.
In 2022, the Red Sox went 3-16 vs. TOR…They entered this season on a 9-game losing streak vs. TOR.
EASTERN STANDARD: Boston is 16-11 vs. the AL East this season…They are 5-3 in series play vs. the AL East, winning 4 of their last 5 series within the division since 5/1. Tonight snaps a streak of 23 consecutive games against opponents outside the division (7/4-8/2). Boston played just 2 games vs. AL East teams in July but will play 6 in August (3 vs. TOR, 3 vs. NYY) and 19 in September (7 vs. BAL, 5 vs. TB, 4 vs. NYY, 3 vs. TOR).
SERIES BUSINESS: The Sox lost both series on their 6-game road trip (1-2 at SF, 1-2 at SEA) to fall to to 19-14-2 in series play, including 8-8-2 on the road (11-6-0 at home). They are 6-3-0 in their last 9 series, beginning 6/30. The Sox have lost 3 consecutive road series, beginning 7/17 at OAK, after entering that span without losing consecutive road series all season.
TOUGH TEST: The Red Sox are 4-4 so far in a stretch of 11 straight games against teams who currently have a winning record (2-0 vs. ATL, 1-2 at SF, 1-2 at SEA, 3 vs. TOR). BOS is 41-34 (.547) this season against teams currently at or above .500, the 4th-best record in MLB (ATL-.631, BAL-.568, SF-.557) and 2nd most wins (BAL-46). After this series vs. TOR, the Sox’ next 3 opponents (KC, DET, WSH) own a combined record of 129-198 (.394).
HIGH FIVE: The Sox are an AL-best 46-7 (.868) when scoring 5+ runs, the 3rd-best record in MLB…They’ve scored fewer than 5 runs in 4 of their last 5 games. Boston is 37-8 (.822) when recording 10+ hits, having won each of their last 10 (beginning 7/5 vs. TEX)… They’ve had fewer than 10 hits in each of their last 7 games, after recording 10+ in 13 of their previous 18.
ON THE MEND: Trevor Story and Chris Sale are on rehab assignments with Triple-A Worcester. Sale made his 1st rehab start Tuesday against Syracuse, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings (H, 2 BB, 3 SO, 40 pitches). Story has played in 10 games with Worcester and Double-A Portland, making 7 starts at SS and 3 as the DH (.241 AVG, 7-for-29, 2 2B, 3 HR, 5 R, 7 RBI, 5 BB, HBP, SB).
SLUGGING SOX: The Red Sox lead MLB in doubles (238)… They rank 2nd in the AL in AVG (.263) and XBH (373), 3rd in OBP (.330), and T-3rd in runs scored per game (5.0). In their last 26 games since 6/30, the Red Sox lead the AL in AVG (.279), SLG (.476), and OPS (.810). The Sox have hit 31 HR in their last 19 games since 7/8, 3rd most in the AL during that span (HOU-33, LAA-33).
RED SOX OFFENSE BY DATE
Dates Record AVG OPS Runs/G
3/30-5/6 21-14 .273 .800 5.9
5/7-6/13 12-21 .243 .704 3.8
6/14-7/27 22-12 .281 .803 5.4
7/28-pres. 2-4 .222 .645 3.2
HOME COOKING: The Red Sox have won 9 of their last 10 home games, outscoring opponents 65-33 in that span. In 11 home games during July, the Sox batted .318 with an .883 OPS (37 XBH: 20 2B, 3 3B, 14 HR). At home, the Sox lead the majors in AVG (.292) and OBP (.359)…They also rank 3rd in runs scored per game (5.6), OPS (.830) and SLG (.471).
PITCHING IN: Boston ranked 27th in MLB with a 5.09 ERA at the end of play on 5/15, but ranks 2nd in the AL and 5th in the majors with a 3.74 ERA since then…Overall, the Sox rank 17th in the majors in ERA (4.27). During that stretch that began 5/16, the Red Sox’ ERA leaders are Chris Martin (1.54), Chris Murphy (1.59), and Brennan Bernardino (1.90) (min. 20.0 IP).
WHAT A RELIEF: In 14 games since 7/17, Sox relievers rank 2nd in MLB with a 2.45 ERA (20 ER/66.0 IP) and 75 SO. Boston ranks 8th in MLB with a 3.77 relief ERA (181 ER/432.2 IP)…They ranked 14th in the AL and 26th in MLB last season with a 4.59 mark.
RUNNIN’ RED SOX: The Sox rank 3rd in the AL and 10th in the majors in stolen base % (81.3, 78-for-96). The Sox’ top 3 leaders in steals are a combined 38-for-42 (90.5%): Jarren Duran (23-for-25), Masataka Yoshida (8-for-8), and Rob Refsnyder (7-for-9).
LOCK IT DOWN: The Red Sox lost on Wednesday at SEA, 6-3, despite holding a 3-2 lead through 6 innings…It was just their 3rd loss of the season when leading after 6, fewest in MLB (also 5/13 vs. STL and 5/31 vs. CIN). The Sox still own MLB’s best record when leading after 6 innings (43-3, .935)…In 2022, they ranked 18th in MLB when leading after 6 (63-10, .863).
LATE SURGE: Boston has scored 233 runs in innings 6-9, 2nd most in the AL behind TEX (238)…BOS leads the AL and ranks 2nd in MLB in hits during those innings (416; MIA-439).
COMEBACK KIDS: The Red Sox have 31 come-from-behind wins, tied for 2nd most in the AL and 3rd in MLB (BAL-35, CIN-35, LAA-31)…They’ve trailed in 3 of their last 4 wins.
TRISTON TIME: Triston Casas was named the AL Rookie of the Month for July, batting .348 with a 1.199 OPS during the month (23-for-66, 4 2B, 7 HR, 13 RBI, 11 BB). Prior to Casas, the only Red Sox player to post an OPS that high in any calendar month (min. 50 PA) before turning 24 was Ted Williams (8 times, 1939-42).
TONIGHT’S STARTER: 65 JAMES PAXTON – LHP
W-L ERA G GS IP ER HR BB SO WHIP AVG
2023 6-2 3.34 13 13 70.0 26 9 20 80 1.07 .212
CAREER 63-35 3.57 150 150 824.2 327 90 251 911 1.20 .237
Made his 150th career start last Saturday night at SF…Allowed a season-high 8 hits, but only 1 run and two walks over 5.0 innings, while striking out 5 batters. The Red Sox have won 3 of his last 5 starts and are 4-3 in his last 7. In his last 10 starts, beginning on 5/31, is 5-1 with a 2.89 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, .204 opponent AVG, and a 4.36 SO/BB ratio (56.0 IP, 20 R/18 ER, 42 H, 14 BB, 61 SO). Has allowed 2 ER or fewer in 10 of his 13 starts (1 or 0 runs in 6 of them). Is 6-3 in 11 career games vs. TOR, with a 3.98 ERA and 55 SO (28 ER/63.1 IP)…Tossed 7.2 scoreless innings on 6/30 at TOR, with only 3 hits allowed and 7 strikeouts recorded. has struck out 28.4% of batters, the 13rd-best rate in MLB (8th in the AL; min. 70.0 IP)…40 of his 80 strikeouts have come with the 4-seam fastball.
