TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays were limited to four hits and a walk as they took a 5-3 loss from the Yankees in the Bronx last night…Won two of the three games in New York and are now 15-9-1 in road series this year (29-18-2 overall). Toronto has five of its last six games, 13 of its last 20 and is 18-12 over its last 30 contests…Is tied for the AL lead with a .632 win% (12-7) in September…Enters today holding the 2nd AL Wild Card spot, a half-game ahead of both Texas (84-68) and Seattle (84-68).
KIRKY CONNECTING: Alejandro Kirk broke up a potential no-hitter last night with a one-out double in the 6th inning…Has gone 17-for-62 (.274) with nine doubles, a homer, nine RBI, and an 11BB/10K ratio over his last 22 contests (.846 OPS)…His 0.91BB/K rate for the season is 5th Best among AL hitters (min. 300 PA).
DOUBLE THE FUN: Matt Chapman doubled in the 8th inning last night and eventually scored Toronto’s 1st run on a wild pitch… Marked his 39th two-bagger of the year and his 56th extra-base hit, surpassing his 2022 total (55). The third baseman is now tied for 2nd in the AL in doubles (T-3rd in MLB)…Also ranks 2nd in the AL with a 56.9 hard-hit percentage (1st: Aaron Judge – 62.5) and is 5th in average exit velocity (93.4 MPH).
BOTTOM’S UP: Kevin Kiermaier got a 9th-inning rally going last night as he led off the frame with a single and later came around to score on a fielder’s choice…Has racked up an AL-high 82 hits while batting 9th this season (2nd: Leody Taveras – 75), the most by a Blue Jay since Alex Gonzalez’s 110 knocks in 1998.
FEELING GEORGEOUS: George Springer picked up a single in his final at-bat last night…Has played in 146 games, his 2nd-highest total for a single season (162 in 2016)…Over his last 41 games, is batting .294 (47-for-160) with 26 runs scored, eight doubles, seven homers, 23 RBI, and 20 walks (.843 OPS).
CAMER-RUN EDEN: Cam Eden was selected to the Major League roster on Wednesday after stealing 53 bases on 57 attempts for Triple-A Buffalo this season…Made his MLB debut as a pinch-runner in the 9th inning last night…Became the 6th Blue Jay to make a Major League debut this year (also: Hagen Danner, Spencer Horwitz, Nathan Lukes, Mason McCoy, Davis Schneider).
CLAIMING THE CLOSE CONTESTS: The Blue Jays have gone 54-41 in games decided by three or fewer runs this season…The .568 win% in such contests is the 3rd highest in team history, behind a .594 (57-39) clip in 1992 and a .579 (55-40) mark in 1993 (courtesy Stats Perform).
WORKING LATE: Toronto scored 11 of its 16 runs during the three games in the Bronx in the 7th inning or later…The club’s 266 runs scored from the 7th inning on are 2nd most in the AL (T-3rd in MLB)…Also rank 2nd with a .261 AVG in those frames (1st: HOU – .264).
ONE LAST RIDE: The Blue Jays are on their final road trip of the regular season (2-1 so far)…Own a 44-34 road record this season for a .564 win%, 3rd best in the AL (5th in MLB)…Have gone 24-12 over their last 36 road games for a .667 win%, tied for the 2nd-best road record in the Majors since June 20 (1st: LAD .684)…After this series, will play the home version of this road trip as they finish off the season with three games each against the Yankees (77-76) and the Rays. Blue Jays rank 2nd among AL clubs with a .263 road batting average, 2nd in road OBP (.334), 3rd in road OPS (.763), and 4th in road SLG (.429)…The pitching staff ranks 2nd in the AL in road ERA (3.85), 8th in road opponents’ average (.250), and 9th in road WHIP (1.27).
PITCHING IN: Toronto pitchers have combined for a 3.72 ERA this season, 2nd best in the Majors (1st: SEA – 3.70)… The 3.72 ERA is currently 5th best in team history and the club’s best since 2008 (3.49)…Have recorded 1,437 strikeouts, 3rd most in MLB and 2nd most in team history (1,468 in 2021)…Rank 5th in the AL in opponents’ batting average (.238) and 5th in WHIP (1.24)…The rotation has recorded 67 quality starts, tied for 3rd most in the AL (T-6th in MLB).
DIVISIONAL DETAILS: The Blue Jays are wrapping up the regular season with 15 straight division games (5-1 so far)…Have won nine of their last 12 games vs. AL East clubs… Are 17-26 against divisional opponents for the season (43-33 last season).
THE D-JAYS: The Blue Jays have kept a .987 fielding percentage this season, 5th best in the AL…Played their 99th error-free game last night, tied for 5th most in team history. According to Sports Info Solutions, Toronto fielders have recorded a total of 88 Defensive Runs Saved, the most in the Majors (2nd: MIL – 69)…The group is led by an MLB-high 34 runs saved in center field.
VS. THE RAYS: All-Time: 203-242
2023: 3-4 Road: 88-136
Road: 1-3 Tropicana Field: 88-133
The Blue Jays are 3-4 vs. the Rays this year…Last met in May, dropping three of the four games at Tropicana Field…Have not bested the Rays in a season series since going 10-9 in 2017.
Bo Bichette is batting .452 (14-for-31) with three doubles and three RBI in the seven games against the Rays this season…Is a career 64-for-234 (.274) with 14 doubles, seven home runs, and 28 RBI over 57 meetings (.732 OPS).
Whit Merrifield owns a .435 (10-for-23) batting average in his six games vs. TB this season, including three doubles, a homer, and three RBI…Has gone 58- for-171 (.339) with 15 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, and 28 RBI in 45 career matchups (.994 OPS).
Kevin Kiermaier was drafted by the Rays in 2010 and played 10 seasons for the club, winning three Gold Glove Awards and one Platinum Glove Award… Batted .248 with 273 extra-base hits and 316 RBI over 914 games…Has gone 6-for-24 (.250) with a double and an RBI in his six games against them.
STARTING PITCHER – Chris Bassitt, RHP #40
TODAY’S GAME: Making his 32nd start of the season and his 16th on the road…Took a no-decision his last time out, on 9/16 vs. BOS, tossing 7.0 innings of 2-run ball (4H, 3BB, 5K)…Marked his career-high-tying 19th quality start of the season…Set career highs in games started (31) and innings pitched (185.2), surpassing his previous bests from 2022 with the Mets (30GS, 181.2IP). His 14 wins are tied for 2nd in the AL (T-6th in MLB)…Ranks 4th in the AL in innings pitched (185.2) and 10th in OPP AVG (.237). Has 8 starts of at least 6.0 scoreless innings this year, The most in the AL and tied for 2nd most in team history (Rogers Clemens – 9 in 1997; Dave Stieb – 8 in 1990).
2023 HIGHLIGHTS: Earned his 14th win of the campaign on 9/5 at OAK, tossing 8.0 innings of one-run ball (7H, 0BB, 7K)…Became the first Blue Jay with back-to-back starts of at least 8.0 innings since Aaron Sanchez (2G from 6/29-7/4/16)… Was his 4th start of 8.0+ frames this year..
Earned his 13th win of the year on 8/30 vs. WAS, tossing 8.0 shutout innings with 3 hits, a walk, a hit batter, and a trio of strikeouts…Was his 3rd start of at least 8.0 innings this season. Earned his 11th win of the year on 8/6 at BOS, tossing 7.0 frames of onerun ball (7H, 3BB, 6K)…Was his 15th quality start of the year. 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). 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 on 103 pitches (70 strikes).
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS: Received two 5th-place votes in AL Cy Young balloting in 2021, finishing 10th in the vote…Earned his 1st All-Star honors. Started and won Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series vs. CWS on 9/30/20. Selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 16th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.
VS. THE RAYS: Facing the Rays for the 2nd time this season and the 5th time in his career (4th start)…Met the Rays earlier this year on 5/22 at Tropicana Field, giving up 6R/2ER over 6.1 innings (7H, BB, 4K)…Has allowed 2ER or fewer in each of his 4 career games vs. TB, going at least 6.0 frames in each of his 3 starts.
TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:
RAY REPORT — The Rays are 2-1 on their final homestand of the season against the Angels (2-1) and Blue Jays (3 to play)…despite a 2-3 mark in their last five games, they have still won 11 of 16, 16 of 24, and 20 of their last 29 games…the Rays are an AL-best 32-17 (.653) since 7/27 on the heels of an MLB-worst 5-15 (.250) stretch from 7/1-26…however, they remain 1.5 games back of the Orioles in the AL East, the same deficit they faced entering play on 7/27…their 12-8 (.600) record in September is tied for fifth best in the AL after posting the league’s second-best record in August (17-8). With a win tonight, the Rays can clinch at least the first AL Wild Card spot, guaranteeing a home postseason series…if the postseason began today, the Rays would host the Blue Jays in a best-of-three Wild Card Series at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay has secured the ninth postseason berth in franchise history, all since becoming the Rays in 2008…only the Dodgers (13), Yankees (11) and Cardinals (10) have more postseason berths in that span (including 2023). The Rays 94 wins are tied for their fifth most in a season in club history…with eight games remaining, they are on pace for 98 wins, which would mark the second most in club history behind the 2021 Rays (100-62)…the Rays need to go 6-2 or better to reach 100 wins. Tampa Bay’s +196 run differential ranks second in the majors behind Atlanta (+225)…in club history, only the 2021 Rays (+206) have posted a higher mark. The Rays are unbeaten in their last five series, going 4-0-1, and are 10-1-1 in their last 12 series…they have won six consecutive home series following an 0-4-3 stretch from 6/20-8/10, their second-longest such streak of the season (7, 5/2-6/11). The Rays 33-16 (.673) record in series openers ranks third in the majors behind the Braves and Dodgers (both 34-16, .680)…they have won three straight series openers since dropping three in a row from 9/1-7…after winning a series opener, the Rays have gone on to win the series 72.7 pct. of the time (24 of 33),…they are 7-0-1 in their last eight sets in which they won the series opener. The Rays are 11-2 when donning their throwback Devil Rays uniforms, which were worn on Opening Day and at all Friday night home games…tonight’s contest marks the final Devil Rays Day of the 2023 season.
WELCOME TO THE SHOW — Earlier today, the Rays selected No. 1 prospect INF Junior Caminero from Double-AA Montgomery, placed OF Luke Raley on the 10-day injured list with a cervical strain and designated RHP Trevor Kelley for assignment…Caminero, 20, is currently rated as the No. 6 overall prospect in baseball (MLB.com)…he slashed .324/.384/.591 with 31 homers and 94 RBI across 117 games between Class-A Bowling Green and Montgomery this season…his 31 homers are tied for seventh most among minor leaguers and are the fourth most by a Rays farmhand in franchise history. Caminero is currently 20 years, 79 days old…he would be the second-youngest player to appear for the Rays — B.J. Upton was 19 years, 347 days old at the time of his major league debut. He would become the 10th player to make his major league debut with the Rays in 2023, which would tie with 2002 and 2003 for second most in a season in franchise history behind the 2018 club (12)…among AL clubs, only the Athletics (14), Mariners (11) and Angels (11) have had more than 10 debuts this season.
RALLY RAYS — The Rays recorded their 10th walk-off victory of the season yesterday, tied with the Reds and Twins for the major league lead and tied for the fifth most walkoffs in a season in club history, three shy of the franchise-record 13 collected by the 2013 Rays…their six walk-off wins since the beginning of August pace the majors, ahead of the Nationals (5). The Rays have six wins when trailing entering the ninth inning, tied with the Angels for the second most in the AL behind the Guardians (7)…their 13 wins when behind after six innings match their third most in franchise history behind the 2021 Rays (15) and the 2000 Devil Rays (14). The Rays are outscoring opponents, 253-177 (+76), from the seventh inning on, tied with the Dodgers for the best such run differential in the majors…it marks the third-highest run differential in the seventh inning or later in franchise history, behind the 2021 (+113) and 2010 (+87) Rays.
TROP TALK — The Rays own an MLB-best 52-26 (.667) record at home, ahead of the Dodgers (51-27, .654)…it ties the 2009 and 2021 squads for the second-most home victories in a season in Rays history behind the 2008 team (57-24)…Tampa Bay is 14-5 in its last 19 home games since 8/11 after going 5-12 at Tropicana Field from 6/24-8/10. The Rays have 102 homers at Tropicana Field this season…they would need four long balls in the next three games to tie the single-season club record at home (106HR), accomplished by the 2017 Rays.
SERVING UP STRIKEOUTS — The Rays pitching staff has recorded 30 strikeouts over their last two games, tied for their second most strikeouts in back-to-back games, both of which lasted nine innings, in franchise history; the club record of 31 was set from 7/27- 28, 2020…the Rays most strikeouts in a span of three consecutive games, all of which were nine innings, is 44 (6/30-7/2, 2019). The Rays bullpen has posted an MLB-leading 34.1 pct. strikeout rate this month… it would signal the third-highest mark by any bullpen in a month in the divisional era (since 1969), trailing the Astros in June 2018 (35.5%) and the Brewers in Sept./Oct. 2018 (34.2%).
THE FINAL PUSH — Isaac Paredes is one home run and 8 RBI shy of becoming the fifth player (7th instance) in Rays history with a 30+ homer, 100+ RBI season…he would become the first to turn the trick since Carlos Peña (39HR, 100RBI) and Evan Longoria in (33HR, 113RBI) in 2009…the only two AL hitters to reach those marks this season are SEA Julio Rodríguez and TEX Adolis García. Paredes has eight games remaining to record one homer and 8 RBI…he has recorded 8+ RBI in an eight-game span 36 times this season, most recently from 8/22-30.
JAYS IN THE BAY — The Rays and Blue Jays begin a stretch of six matchups in 10 days after last meeting from 5/22-25 at Tropicana Field…the upcoming three-game set from 9/29-10/1 at Rogers Centre will conclude both teams’ respective regular season schedules…the Rays are 4-3 against the Blue Jays this season and need to go 3-3 or better to clinch their sixth straight season series victory over Toronto, matching 2008-13 for the longest streak in franchise history…they have won seven of eight season series vs. the Blue Jays under Kevin Cash (since 2015)…the Rays have won four of their last five games vs. the Jays and are 8-5 against them since the beginning of last season. Blue Jays vice president of baseball strategy James Click spent 14 years with the Rays from 2006-19, most notably as vice president of baseball operations (2017-19). Cash began his major league playing career with the Blue Jays in 2002 and served as an advance scout for them in 2012. Rays hitting coach Chad Mottola held the same role with the Blue Jays in 2013… he played in 13 games with Toronto 2000 and 2006.
TONIGHT’S STARTER: RHP TYLER GLASNOW (9-6, 3.53)
TONIGHT’S START — The righty makes his 20th start of the season and his 10th at home…eight of his 11 starts since the ASB have been quality…has allowed a total of 10 earned runs over his last two starts after allowing 14 earned runs across his previous nine starts from 7/15-9/6.
LAST TIME OUT — Suffered a loss on 9/16 at Baltimore…worked 4.0 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Saw his career best streak of 10 consecutive starts of 6.0+ innings come to an end. The eight hits allowed matched a season high (also 8/19 at LAA) while his four strikeouts matched a season low (also 8/26 vs. NYY). Was the sixth time in his career allowing six or more earned runs, including his second this season (also 6/20 vs. BAL).
SINGING THE BLUES — Glasnow is 0-3 with a 6.88 ERA (34.0IP, 26ER) in eight career starts opposite Toronto. He allowed a career-high-tying seven earned runs (also 5/12/17 at AZ) at Toronto on 9/5/18…in that start, Glasnow recorded just two outs, allowing five hits and issuing two walks while striking out two batters. In seven starts against AL East opponents this season, Glasnow is 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA (39.2IP, 17ER)…has allowed two runs or fewer in five of the seven starts, but has surrendered 14 earned runs over 15.1 innings across three starts vs. Baltimore.
STRIKEOUT ARTIST — Glasnow’s 32.8% strikeout rate since making his season debut on 5/27 leads the AL (min. 350BF), ahead of TOR Kevin Gausman (31.2%)…his 34.9 pct. whiff rate since his debut also paces the AL (min. 400 pitches swung at), outpacing CWS Dylan Cease (33.2%)…he has recorded 298 total swings-and-misses this season, sixth most in the majors since 5/27…his 146 strikeouts are fifth most through a Rays pitcher’s first 19 starts of a season in franchise history, trailing David Price (159SO in 2014), Shane McClanahan (147SO in 2022) and Chris Archer (147SO in both 2015 and 2017). Glasnow has a 43.2 pct. whiff rate on his breaking pitches (slider/ curveball), the third-highest mark in MLB (min. 400 pitches swung at) behind ATL Spencer Strider (56.6%) and SD Blake Snell (55.2%)… his 50.6 pct. curveball whiff rate ranks second in the majors (min. 100 curveballs swung at) behind Snell (56.2%). Fanned Luis Arraez on 7/25 vs. Miami for his 600th career strikeout…per Elias, he became the 15th fastest pitcher in MLB history to reach the 600-strikeout mark by innings (467.1IP).
TROP TALK — He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his last six home starts dating back to 6/25, pitching to a 1.47 ERA (36.2IP, 6ER)… it marks the longest such streak of his career, ahead of a four-start stretch from 4/28-6/8, 2021.
WORKING LATE — Prior to his last outing, Glasnow threw 6.0+ innings in 10 consecutive starts from 7/15-9/11, the longest streak by a Rays pitcher since Shane McClanahan’s 13-start run from 5/11-7/26, 2022)…Glasnow’s streak included three straight starts of 7.0+ innings from 7/20-31, matching the longest such streak of his career (also 5/26-6/8, 2021). He has earned a decision in each of his last nine starts, the longest streak of his career (prev. 6GS: 4/12-5/8, 2021).
CONTROLLED CHAOS — Glasnow has thrown 11 wild pitches this season, tied with OAK Luis Medina for second most in the AL, trailing only LAA Shohei Ohtani (12WP)…he is the ninth Ray (13th occurrence) to have 11+ wild pitches in a season and the first since Blake Snell (11WP in 2019).
RIGHT ON — Glasnow has held right-handed batters to a .169 batting average, the third-lowest mark in the majors (min. 150AB) behind TEX Aroldis Chapman (.148) and SEA Bryan Woo (.165)…righties are just 3-for32 (.094) with one extra-base hit (2B) and 21 strikeouts against his curveball.
