TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays took the middle match of their three-game series in Houston as they doubled up the Astros, 4-2, last night…Are now 10-5 while playing within the AL circuit. Toronto has now won 10 of its last 14 contests…Can claim a 5th consecutive series with a win tonight…Are 1-1 in rubber games this season.
CHAP-MAN ON FIRE: Matt Chapman belted a solo shot in the 4th inning last night…Was his 5th longball of the campaign, homering in consecutive games for 2nd time this season (3G from April 8-11) and the 21st time in his career. The third baseman also doubled to finish the night at 2-for-4…Now has 14 extra-base hits to lead the Majors, two more than any other player…Is now batting .415 (27-for-65) with nine doubles, five homers, seven walks, and 17 RBI…His .785 SLG, his 1.257 OPS, and his 51 total bases are all the highest in the Majors…Ranks 1st in the AL in batting average, OBP (.472), and doubles while 2nd in hits and T-4th in RBI. The 29-year-old also leads all MLB hitters in barrel
rate (23.6%), hard-hit (95+ MPH) percentage (66.0) and average exit velocity (97.4 MPH)…Now boasts a 1.4 fWAR, the highest in the Majors.
VLADIOS, BASEBALL: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. opened last night’s scoring with a liner into the right-field seats in the 4th…Was his 3rd home run of the season, all coming on the road…Has reached base safely in all but two games this season, now 25-for-70 with a double, three homers, nine RBI, and a 9BB/9K ratio for a .357 AVG (4th in the AL), a .439 OBP (3rd), and a .939 OPS (12th). The Gold Glove first baseman’s 25 hits are 3rd most in the AL, trailing only teammates Bo Bichette (29) and Matt Chapman (27)…Has recorded 36 hard-hit balls (95+ MPH) this year, the most in MLB (2nd: Matt Chapman – 33).
THE HITS ARE FLOWING: Bo Bichette singled and drew a walk to go 1-for-3 with an RBI last night…Has hits in 15 of the 18 games so far, going 29-for-78 (.372) with four doubles, four homers, 12 RBI, and 11 runs scored…The 29 hits are tied with Bryson Stott for the most in the Majors… Among AL batters, currently ranks 2nd in AVG, 3rd in total bases (45), 7th in SLG (.577), and 10th in OPS (.966).
THAT MERRI FEELING: Whit Merrifield singled twice and scored as part of a 2-for-4 evening…Has reached base safely in all 13 of his games played this season, batting .292 (14-for-48) with three doubles, six RBI, and three walks.
THE BASS IS IT: Chris Bassitt tossed 6.1 innings of scoreless ball last night, allowing three hits and a walk while fanning five batters to pick up his 2nd win as a Blue Jay… Was his longest scoreless outing since Aug. 3, 2022 at WAS (7.0 IP)…Marked his 3rd consecutive quality start, posting a 1.96 ERA (4 ER/18.1 IP) and a .156 opponents’ AVG over that span.
HITTING THE ROAD: The Blue Jays are on a six-game road trip, now holding a 7-5 record while away from Rogers Centre…Their 12 road games played are tied for the most in MLB… After this three-gamer in Houston, will have the day off tomorrow before taking on the Yankees (10-7) in the Bronx for three dates over the weekend. Toronto’s .583 road win% currently ranks T-5th in the AL…Blue Jays hitters lead the AL in road hits (119) while ranking 2nd in AVG (.275), 2nd in OBP (.338), 3rd in OPS (.756), and 6th in SLG (.418)…The pitching staff ranks 13th in the AL in road ERA (5.28), 13th in opponents’ batting average (.268), and 14th in WHIP (1.42).
ROMANO-MATIC: Jordan Romano got a two-on, two-out fly ball to end the 8th inning and then struck out two batters to go with a groundout in the 9th to record his 1st four-out save of the season…Now has seven saves to lead the Majors…Led the AL last year with 10 saves in the opening month of the season
HITTING IT: The Blue Jays have notched 169 hits so far this season, 2nd most in the AL (1st: TB – 176)…Are also 2nd in the AL in team batting average (.269), 3rd in OBP (.337), 3rd in OPS (.746), and 5th in SLG (.409)… Have had 236 batters reach base safely (2nd in the AL)…Are now on a streak of 33 games with 8+ runners on base, the longest of all MLB clubs (courtesy Stats Perform).
ALEJANDRO ABOARD: Alejandro Kirk went 1-for-4 last night…Has reached base in all 13 of his games with an at-bat for a .373 OBP while going 10-for-41 (.244) with a homer, nine RBI, and an 8BB/8K ratio…Last season, struck out just 58 times over 541 PA while drawing 63 walks as his
9.33 PA/K was 4th best among qualified MLB hitters.
VS. THE ASTROS: All-Time: 30-37
2023: 1-1 Road: 12-23
Road: 1-1 Minute Maid Park: 12-23
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 12-23 all-time at Minute Maid Park but have taken five of their last nine 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 seven games against them, has gone 5-for-25 (.200) with a double, three homers, three RBI, and three walks (.910 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 33 career meetings, is batting .300 (42-for-140) with nine doubles, three triples, three home runs, and 20 RBI (.805 OPS). Matt Chapman leads all current Blue Jays with 74 games played vs. Houston…Has gone 64-for-270 (.237) with 19 doubles, a triple, 16 homers, and 35 RBI in those contests for a .795 OPS.
STARTING PITCHER – José Berríos, RHP #17
TODAY’S GAME:
Making his 4th start of the season and his 3rd on the road…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. Has made 143 starts since the beginning of 2018, tied for the 3rd most among MLB hurlers (Aaron Nola – 147, Gerrit Cole – 144).
2023 HIGHLIGHTS:
Lost his 2nd game of the year on 4/8 at LAA, surrendering 6R/4ER over 4.0+ frames with 6 hits, a walk, and 5 strikeouts (71 pitches – 43 strikes). Took the loss in his season debut on 4/3 at KC, giving up 8 runs on 9 hits and a pair of walks over 5.2 innings with 7 strikeouts.
HOUSTON ASTROS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros, the reigning World Series champs, have alternated wins and losses in each of their last eight games and are looking to continue that streak tonight in the rubber game of their three-game series vs. Toronto… getting the start for Houston will be RHP Luis Garcia, a 15- game winner last season, who’s looking for his first win of the year…he’ll be opposed by RHP José Berríos and the
Rays.
ABOUT GARCIA:RHP Luis Garcia is making the fourth start of his fourth MLB season (2020-23) and is coming off a strong 2022 campaign in which he ranked tied for fourth in the AL in wins (15), ninth in opponent average (.222) and 10th in strikeouts per 9.0 (8.98)…he finished his season by winning seven consecutive decisions over his last eight starts.
ALL IN THE FAMILY: On Monday, the Astros signed minor league free agent RHP Heribert Garcia, who is the younger brother of tonight’s starter RHP Luis Garcia…the 23-year-old Heribert spent his 2022 season with Class A Columbia, in what was his fifth year as a professional in the Royals system after signing with the club in March of 2018…Garcia has reported to the Astros Spring Training facility in West Palm Beach, FL.
TONIGHT’S RING GIVEAWAY: Tonight, the Astros will give away a Chas McCormick World Series Replica Ring, presented by Jostens, to all fans in attendance…McCormick’s replica ring is the third of 13 scheduled replica ring giveaways this season.
TONIGHT’S SPECIAL GUEST: Through The Challenged Athletes Foundation, the Astros will welcome special guest Parker Byrd to Minute Maid Park tonight to attend batting practice and throw out a ceremonial first pitch…Parker received a 2022 scholarship to play baseball at East Carolina University, but last July he was in a tragic boating accident and lost his left leg below the knee…through a grant for an Ossur sports prosthetic from The Challenged Athletes Foundation, Parker is defying the odds and has continued to work towards his goal of playing baseball at ECU.
VS. THE JAYS: The Astros and Blue Jays, two perennial contenders, are concluding their first series of the 2023 season tonight…the Blue Jays won the season series last year, 4-2, taking both three-game series played…this series is a reunion between the Astros and OF George Springer, who played his first seven years (2014-20) as an Astro…IF Cavan Biggio, the son of Astros Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, also plays for the Jays.
AT THE HELM: Astros skipper Dusty Baker is in his 26th season as a manager and his fourth at the helm in Houston…Baker, who ranks ninth all-time in managerial wins with 2,101 wins, has an outside shot of moving up to sixth all time by seasons end…en route, he’d have to surpass Joe McCarthy (8th, 2,125), Bucky Harris (7th, 2,158) and Sparky Anderson (6th 2,194).
ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Astros and Blue Jays played a close game last night, with Toronto edging the Astros 4-2…the Jays scored early on RHP José Urquidy (4ER/4.1IP) and held on late to even the three-game series…the Astros scored their runs on RBI singles by LF Yordan Alvarez and RF Kyle Tucker, but their two-run rally ended prematurely in the 8th…2B Mauricio Dubón (1×5) scored one of the two runs after extending his
hitting streak to 13 games.
YESTERDAY’S ROSTER MOVE: Prior to last night’s game, the Astros recalled IF Rylan Bannon (#38) from Triple A Sugar Land…he took the roster spot of OF Chas McCormick, who was placed on the 10-day IL with lower back tightness… McCormick’s IL placement is backdated to Saturday, April 15.
RACKIN’ UP RBI: LF Yordan Alvarez (21 RBI) is the fourth player in club history to post 21 RBI within the team’s first 18 games, joining Lance Berkman (21 in 2002), OF Richard Hidalgo (22 in 2004) and CF César Cedeño (23 RBI in 1974)…Alvarez has done his work while playing in just 16 of the Astros 18 games on the season.
TRAFFIC:LF Yordan Alvarez has opened his season by reaching base safely in all 16 of his games…Alvarez’s streak ties as the longest on-base streak in the AL this season, along with White Sox 1B Andrew Vaughn.
EARLY LEAGUE LEADERS: LF Yordan Alvarez ranks first in the Majors in RBI (21) and ranks tied for ninth in the AL in home runs (4), along with RF Kyle Tucker…Tucker also ranks second in the AL in walks (15), fifth in OBP (.434) and ninth in OPS (.984)…SS Jeremy Peña ranks tied for sixth in the AL in doubles (6), while 2B Mauricio Dubón ranks seventh in the AL in batting average (.328).
MISSING PIECE: The Astros are playing without their leadoff man, 2B Jose Altuve, who suffered a right thumb fracture while playing in the WBC…Altuve is expected to be sidelined from baseball activity for approx. two months…in his stead, the Astros have started IF Mauricio Dubón (14g) and IF David Hensley (4g) at the keystone, while SS Jeremy Peña (8g), OF Chas McCormick (6g) and Dubón (4g) have shared leadoff duties.
FILLING IN NICELY: 2B Mauricio Dubón is on a career-long, 13-game hitting streak, which is the longest hitting streak in the AL this season and the longest active streak in the Majors…overall, Dubón is hitting .328 (19×58) on the year, which ranks seventh in the AL…Dubón, who started most of his games at shortstop and center field in 2022, has made all 14 of his starts at second base this season while filling in for
the injured 2B Jose Altuve.
TODAY’S CALL-IN: 2B Mauricio Dubón will be the special guest today on the Matt Thomas Show on SportsTalk 790…the call-in interview is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
ON THE BUMP: The Astros pitching staff ranks fourth in the Majors in strikeouts (169) and fourth in the AL in ERA (3.43)… the starters have worked to a 3.44 ERA, which ranks fifth in the Majors.
TONIGHT’S ASTROS STARTER: RHP LUIS GARCIA
LAST START – 4/14 AT TEX: struck out a season-high 7 batters but also surrendered a season-high 5 runs through 5.0 IP while allowing 5 hits and 2 walks in a 6-2 loss to the Rangers…was the first time since 6/20/22 vs. MIA that he allowed 5 or more runs in a start…had gone 19 starts without allowing 5-or-more runs.
BROTHERLY LOVE: The Astros this week signed Garcia’s younger brother, Heribert (pronounced: eh-ree-ber) to a minor league contract and assigned him to the Florida Complex League…the 23-year-old has spent the last 5 years within the Kansas City minor league system, last appearing with Single A Columbia in 2022…is the latest instance of the Astros having brothers within their system, with Garrett and C.J. Stubbs both under contract from 2019-21, Carlos and J.C. Correa in 2021 along with Yainer and Victor Diaz 2022-current.
VS. THE BLUE JAYS: is set to make his 4th career appearance (4th start) against the Blue Jays…made 2 of the starts in 2022, with the Astros going 1-1 in those starts. • has gone 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA (8ER/18IP) in 3 career starts vs. Toronto…has held Blue Jays hitters to a .206 batting average throughout his career…is his 3rd-lowest opponent’s batting average against a team he’s pitched at least 15.0 innings against.
• has held Blue Jays hitters Matt Chapman, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette to a combined .130 batting average (3×23) throughout his career.
ABOUT GARCIA: Venezuelan starter has pitched in parts of 4 seasons (2020-23) in Houston, going 26-19 with a 3.74 ERA (141ER/339IP) in 66 games (60 starts). • recorded a career-high winning streak from Aug. 12, 2022-Oct. 2, 2022, which dated back 8 starts…in those 8 outings, he recorded a 3.20 ERA (16ER/45IP).
• has dominated right-handed hitters in his career, limiting them to a .196 average (129×657)…lefties have hit 70 points higher against Garcia, posting a .266 average (161×606)…in 2022, those numbers were close to evening out as he limited righties to a .213 (67×315) average and lefties to a .234 (64×274) mark.
GARCIA’S NEW LOOK: Prior to it being outlawed this season, had one of the most unique windups in the Majors, which was a mix of rocking a baby and a salsa dance…his windup was developed during the 2020 season as he worked at the Astros Alternate Training Site over the summer…Garcia did not have a strong origin story for his windup, instead saying he wanted a windup that he felt could be repeatable.
• according to Astros Pitching Coach Josh Miller, this offseason, Garcia simply returned to his windup style he used throughout his career prior to 2020 to get back in compliance with Major League rules.
