TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays were dealt a 9-2 by the Astros in the opening night of a three-game series last night…Are now 4-2 in series openers. Toronto has lost consecutive contests for the 2nd time this season (3G from April 1-3)…Has still won nine of its last 13 contests.
BATT CHAPMAN: Matt Chapman connected for a solo shot in the 2nd inning last night…Marked his 4th longball of the season…Now has 12 extra-base hits, tied with Wander Franco for the most in the Majors. The third baseman is now batting .410 (25-for-61) with eight doubles, four home runs, seven walks, and 16 RBI…His 1.208 OPS and his 45 total bases are both the highest in the Majors…Ranks 1st in the AL in batting average and slugging percentage (.738) while 2nd in OBP (.471)…Also leads all MLB hitters in barrel rate (23.5%) and and hard-hit (95+ MPH)
percentage (67.4) while his 98.6 MPH average exit velocity remains the highest in MLB (2nd: Joc Pederson – 97.1).
SANTI’S SWAT: Santiago Espinal subbed into the game at shortstop in the 7th inning last night and was responsible for Toronto’s other tally as he connected for a homer to left field in the 8th…Was his 1st home run and extra-base hit of the season…Also marked the 10th homer of his career.
BICHETTE HAPPENS: Bo Bichette singled in the 3rd inning as part of a 1-for-3 evening…Has hits in 14 of the 17 games so far, going 28-for-75 (.373) with four doubles, four homers, 11 RBI, and 11 runs scored…The 28 hits are tied with Ronald Acuña Jr. for the most in the Majors while his 44 total bases are tied for 2nd most in MLB (Matt Chapman – 45; Pete Alonso – 44)…Among AL batters, currently ranks 2nd in AVG, 8th in SLG (.587), and 8th in OPS (.984).
FEELING THE GLOVE: Kevin Kiermaier led off the 3rd inning last night with an infield single…Is now batting .327 (17-for-52) with three doubles, a triple, a home run, and six RBI to start his Blue Jays career (.808 OPS)…His 17 hits while batting 9th are the most in the Majors (2nd: Michael A. Taylor – 15). The three-time Gold Glove winner landed MLB’s Play of the Week Award yesterday for his catch to rob a home run in the 2nd inning of Toronto’s Home Opener on April 11 vs. DET.
SOME NOTCHES FOR BELT: Brandon Belt singled and walked to go 1-for-3 last night…Has notched five hits in his last four games after recording one hit in his first six contests.
HITTING THE ROAD: The Blue Jays are on a six-game road trip, now holding a 6-5 record while away from Rogers Centre…Their 11 road games are tied for the most in MLB are the most played by any AL team…After this three-gamer in Houston, will have an off-day on Thursday before taking on the Yankees (10-6) in the Bronx for three dates over the weekend. Toronto’s .545 road win% currently ranks 7th in the AL…Blue Jays hitters lead the AL in road AVG (.278) and road hits (111) while ranking 2nd in OBP (.342), 3rd in OPS (.757), and 6th in SLG (.415)…The pitching staff ranks 13th in the AL in road ERA (5.59), 13th in opponents’ batting average (.272), and 14th in WHIP (1.46).
POP’S SMOKE: Zach Pop struck out the side in the 8th inning last night… Has recorded 11 strikeouts in his 8.1 innings of work this season…Is top-20 among AL relievers in WHIP (T14th, 0.72), ERA (T-15th, 1.08), and opponents’ batting average (16th, .115). The righty from Brampton, ON, has yet to allow a hit to a right-handed hitter…His 17 righties faced without allowing a hit are the most among all MLB pitchers (2nd: Andrew Wantz – 14).
HITTING IT: The Blue Jays have notched an AL-high 161 hits (2nd: TB – 159)…Are 2nd in the AL in team batting average (.271), 3rd in in OBP (.340) and OPS (.747), and 6th in SLG (.407)…Have had 226 batters reach base safely (2nd in the AL)…Are now on a streak of 32 games with 8+ runners on base, the longest of all MLB clubs (courtesy Stats Perform).
VS. THE ASTROS: All-Time: 29-37
2023: 0-1 Road: 11-23
Road: 0-1 Minute Maid Park: 11-23
The Blue Jays went 4-2 in their six meetings with the Astros last season, taking two of three games at each ballpark…Scored 26 runs while the Astros scored 27 as Toronto claimed each of its four wins by one run… Are now 11-23 all-time at Minute Maid Park but have taken four of their last eight games there. George Springer played seven seasons for the Astros and hit .270 with 137 doubles, 13 triples, 174 home runs and 458 RBI (.852 OPS)…Made three All-Star teams and was named 2017 World Series MVP…In his six games against them, has gone 5-for-21 (.238)
with a double, three homers, three RBI, and three walks (1.074 OPS). Whit Merrifield went 10-for-31 (.323) with a double, a triple, and a homer in his seven games vs. the Astros last season…In 32 career meetings, is batting .294 (40-for-136) with nine doubles, three triples, three home runs, and 20 RBI (.799 OPS). Matt Chapman leads all current Blue Jays with 73 games played vs. Houston…Has gone 62-for-266 (.233) with 18 doubles, a triple, 15 homers, and 34 RBI in those contests for a .777 OPS.
STARTING PITCHER – Chris Bassitt, RHP #40
TODAY’S GAME:
Making his 4th start of the season and his 3rd on the road…Was saddled with the loss his last time out on 4/13 vs. DET, tossing 6.0 frames of two-run ball with 4 hits, 3 walks, and 7 strikeouts. Signed a three-year, $63 million deal with the Blue Jays on 12/16/22. Has finished seven of his eight career Major League seasons with a sub4.00 ERA, including each of the last five campaigns.
2023 HIGHLIGHTS:
Earned his 1st win as a Blue Jay on 4/7 at LAA, allowing 3R/2ER on 2 hits and 5 walks over 6.0 frames with 5 strikeouts. Took the loss in his Toronto debut on 4/2 at STL, giving up career highs in runs (9) and homers (4) over 3.1 innings (10H, 0BB, 0K).
2022 HIGHLIGHTS: In his lone season with the Mets, established career highs in wins (15), starts (30), quality starts (19), innings pitched (181.2), and strikeouts (167). Had 23 starts of at least 6.0 innings, his most in a single season in his career. His three starts of 8.0 innings were the most he had thrown in his career… Prior to 2022, had thrown at least 8.0 innings only three times (9.0 IP on 5/27/21 vs. LAA; 8.0 IP on 5/16/19 at DET; 8.0 IP on 8/15/15 at BAL). Made his Mets debut on 4/9 at WAS, tossing 6.0 scoreless frames with three hits, a walk, and eight strikeouts…Became the 2nd Mets pitcher to debut with a line of at least 6.0 scoreless innings with eight or more punchouts, joining Colin McHugh (Aug. 23, 2012 vs. COL). Recorded 19 quality starts, the most in his career and a team-high among Mets starters…From June 14-July 23, recorded six straight quality starts, one shy of a career high seven straight accomplished in 2015. Did not walk a batter from 6/25-7/8 (13.1 innings) which is tied for the longest streak in his career. Tied a career-high with 11 strikeouts on 7/23 vs. SD (also: 9/7/19 vs. DET). Won four straight games for the 1st time in his career from Aug. 3-19, surrendering just two runs over that span. Went 8-3 with a 2.94 ERA (26 ER/79.2 IP) after the All-Star Break…His eight wins were tied for the 3rd-most in the Majors and the most in his career in the back half of a season.
VS. THE ASTROS:
Facing Houston for the 12th time (11th start) in his career…Last met the Astros in 2021 as a member of the Athletics…Has allowed 3ER or less in 8 of his 11 career meetings with the Astros…In 4 visits to Minute Maid Park, has gone 1-2 with a 8.35 ERA (17 ER/18.1 IP), 5 walks, and 16 strikeouts.
HOUSTON ASTROS NOTES:
No release available.
