TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays let a late rally steal a win away from them for the second straight day in Seattle, allowing five runs in the 7th inning in an eventual 9-8 loss to the Mariners…Have now gone 16-11 in one-run contests, dropping both games of this series in such a way…The .593 win% in one-run games is 2nd best among AL clubs (BAL – .667). Toronto has still won nine of its last 14 games and has gone 28-20 over its last 48 contests…Its .583 win% over that span (since May 26) is the highest in the AL (2nd: CLE – .571)…Is now 9-8-0 in road series (19- 13-0 overall)…Needs a win today to avoid being swept for the 5th time this season.
OH KK THEN: Kevin Kiermaier led off the 5th inning yesterday with a homer to right field…Marked his 5th blast of the season (last: May 26 at MIN)…Also picked up a walk for a 1-for-4 afternoon…Has recorded 56 hits while batting 9th, the most in the Majors (2nd: Michael Harris II – 54)…Is 9-for-30 (.300) with a double, a homer, and four RBI across his last 11 games played (.786 OPS).
A BELT AND A SWING: Brandon Belt put Toronto up, 4-3, yesterday with a two-run bomb in the 5th…Marked his 7th home run of the campaign, five of which have either tied the game or given Toronto the lead…Was his 4th-farthest hit ball as a Blue Jay (406 feet). Over his last 49 contests, The Captain has batted .288 (44-for-153) with 13 doubles, six homers, 18 RBI, and 35 walks (.911 OPS)…His .421 OBP over that span (since May 4) is the highest in the AL (min. 150 PA)…His 4.53 pitches/PA this season tops all AL batters (min. 150 PA).
THE DERBY IS BACK: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. followed up Belt’s blast with a home run on the very next pitch, forming Toronto’s 3rd set of back-to-back jacks this season…The solo shot was his 16th longball of the season, tying him with Bo Bichette for the team lead. The 2023 Home Run Derby champ also doubled in the game to finish 2-for-5…Marked his 4th game this season with multiple extra-base hits…Has gone 23-for-88 (.261) over his last 23 games, including six doubles, seven homers, and 20 RBI for a .902 OPS… His 62 RBI are currently tied for 9th most in the AL… Has recorded an AL-leading 172 hard-hit balls (95+ MPH) this season.
SHOOTING THREES: Yesterday’s 5th inning marked the 2nd time this season Toronto batters have homered three times in an inning, also doing so during the 9th inning on May 23 at TB (Guerrero Jr., Chapman, Jansen).
GETTING ON: George Springer singled and walked yesterday afternoon…Extended his on-base streak to 11 games, going 13-for-48 (.271) with three doubles, a homer,
and six RBI over that span…Over his last 33 contests, is batting .304 (41-for-135) with 20 runs scored, nine doubles, four home runs, and 16 RBI (.822 OPS)…His
47 hits to lead off an inning are the most in the AL.
WORKING OUT WEST: The Blue Jays are on a six-game, six-day road trip to the left coast (0-2 so far)…Own a 27-25 road record this season for a .519 win%, 4th best in the AL…After these three games in Seattle, will head down to LA to face the Dodgers (57-40) for three more. Blue Jays hitters rank 3rd among AL clubs in road AVG (.260), 3rd in road OBP (.325), 5th in road SLG (.420), and 6th in road OPS (.745)…The pitching staff ranks 11th in the AL in road ERA (4.31), 11th in road WHIP (1.34), and 14th in road opponents’ AVG (.261).
CHAPPY FEELINGS: Matt Chapman singled twice and drove in a run as part of a 2-for-5 afternoon…Over his last 25 games, has batted .267 (23-for-86) with 11 extra-base hits and eight RBI (.865 OPS).
A CENTURY IN THE MAKING: Toronto has reached the 100-game mark on the schedule…Will be either 55-45 or 54-46 after 100 games this season…Were 55-45 last season and 52-48 in 2021…A victory today would mark the 10th time in 47 Blue Jays seasons to win 55+ of the first 100 contests.
STARTING SOMETHING: Toronto pitchers have combined for 47 quality starts, 3rd most in the Majors…The starting rotation also ranks 3rd in MLB in strikeouts (566), 5th in innings pitched (542.0), 7th in ERA (3.90), and 12th in AVG (.243).
HITTING IT: Toronto batters have notched 887 hits this season, 3rd most in the AL…Are also currently 3rd in the AL in team AVG (.261), 4th in OBP (.330), 5th in OPS (.747), 6th in SLG (.416), and 7th in extra-base hits (296). Toronto’s offence put up 14 hits last night and has now racked up 10+ hits on 37 occasions this season, 5th most among AL teams…Since 2021, have piled up an MLB-high 175 double-digit hit games (2nd: BOS – 164).
THE D-JAYS: According to Sports Info Solutions, Toronto fielders have recorded a total of 49 Defensive Runs Saved, the most in the Majors (2nd: TEX – 37)…The group is led by an MLB-high 24 runs saved in center field, 12 more than any other team (KC – 12).
VS. THE MARINERS: All-Time: 219-205
2023: 2-3 Road: 101-107
Road: 0-2 T-Mobile Park: 31-51
The Blue Jays took two of three games from their expansion cousins when the teams last met, back at Rogers Centre in April…All five meetings this season have been determined by just one or two runs…Were swept by the Mariners last July, a four-game series the last time the clubs met at T-Mobile Park. Matt Chapman has hits in all five games vs. Seattle this season, going 9-for-19 (.474) with four doubles, four RBI, and three walks…In 79 career meetings, has batted .216 (63-for-291) with 18 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, and 29 RBI (.700 OPS). Whit Merrifield went 3-for-8 with a double when the teams met earlier this season…Holds a career .301 (49-for-163) batting average in 38 games against the M’s, including 12 doubles, a triple, six homers, and 14 RBI (.832 OPS). George Springer leads all current Blue Jays with 111 career games played vs. Seattle…Has hit .257 (112- for-437) with 19 doubles, two triples, 24 home runs, and 63 RBI for an .823 OPS.
STARTING PITCHER – Alek Manoah, RHP #6
TODAY’S GAME:
Making his 16th start of the season and his 8th on the road…Took the loss his last time out, on 7/18 vs. SD, surrendering 4 runs over 3+ innings (3H, 5BB, 0K).
Owns a 3.75 ERA (15 ER/36.0 IP) in 7 road starts this year, compared to a 9.00 ERA (31 ER/31.0 IP) in 8 games at Rogers Centre. Since entering the league in 2021, has held opposing righthanded hitters to a .184 AVG, the 5th-best mark among qualified hurlers.
2023 HIGHLIGHTS:
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 6/5 vs. HOU, lasting a career-low 0.1 frames while allowing 6ER on 7H and a walk. Dropped to 1-6 on the year on 5/31 vs. MIL, surrendering 2 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks over 4.0 innings with 2 strikeouts. 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).
SEATTLE MARINERS NOTES:
TODAY’S TILT…the Mariners wrap up their 10-game homestand (5-4) today with the last of 3 games against the Toronto Blue Jays (2-0)…following today’s finale, Seattle will embark on a 7-day, 6-game road trip against the Minnesota Twins (3 G, 7/24-7/26) and Arizona Diamondbacks (3 G, 7/28-7/30)…Seattle began the current homestand with a 3-game series against the Detroit Tigers (1-2) and a 4-game series against the Minnesota Twins (2-2)…today’s game will be televised live on ROOT SPORTS and broadcast live on Seattle Sports (710 AM).
ODDS AND ENDS…the Mariners defeated the Blue Jays by a 9-8 score in yesterday’s middle game, improving to 13-17 in 1-run games this season…Seattle has an active 3-game winning streak and is 12-6 over its last 18 contests…the Mariners are 38-17 when scoring at least 4 runs and 12-31 when scoring 3-or-fewer…the Mariners are 29-24 at T-Mobile Park and 21-24 on the road this season…they are 17-18 in day games and 33-30 at night.
- Connect Four – The Mariners would tie a season-high 4-game winning streak with a win today, a streak they have put together 4 separate times (4/12-4/16; 4/30-5/4; 5/22-5/25; 7/1-7/4).
- Heating Up With The Weather – Seattle is 43-23 (.652) in July games since 2021 (12-6 this year).
- Going For The Sweep – The Mariners would secure their 4th series sweep of the season with a win today…they swept a 3-game series vs. COL, a 3-game series at OAK and a 4-game series vs. OAK.
- Naked As A Jaybird – Seattle is 10-2 over its last 12 games against the Blue Jays at T-Mobile Park. J.P. STANDS FOR JULY POP…J.P. Crawford went 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI yesterday…over his last 33 games (6/10-c), Crawford is batting .304 (38×125) with 19 runs, 10 doubles, 5 home runs, 13 RBI and 23 walks, getting on base at a .409 clip, slugging .504 with a .913 OPS.
CONTRIBUTIONS UP AND DOWN…the Mariners have 8 players with 100+ plate appearances to have an OPS+ of at least 100: Mike Ford (145 OPS+), Tom Murphy (138), J.P. Crawford (118), Jarred Kelenic (113), Teoscar Hernández (104), Cal Raleigh (102), Eugenio Suárez (102) and Julio Rodríguez (102)… Seattle is tied for 4th-most players (8) in the Majors to have an OPS+ of at least 100, trailing San Francisco (10 players), Texas (9) and Atlanta (9)…Ty France (97 OPS+) and José Caballero (97) are Mariners with 100+ plate appearances that are near an OPS+ of at least 100.
FLIPPING THE SCRIPT…over the Mariners first 77 games of the season (3/30-6/26), they were 24-11 (.686) against below-.500 teams and 14-28 (.333) against teams .500-or-better…over their last 21 games (6/27-c), the Mariners are 1-4 (.200) against below-.500 teams, but are 11-5 (.688) against .500-or-better teams during that span…Seattle took 2 of 3 vs. Tampa Bay (6/30-7/2), 2 of 3 at San Francisco (7/3-7/5), 3 of 4 at Houston (7/6-7/9) and 2 of the first 2 so far vs. Toronto (7/21-c).
THE STARTING FIVE…over the Mariners last 34 games (6/12-c), the starting rotation is 14-9 with a 3.05 ERA (67 ER, 197.2 IP) with 50 walks and 185 strikeouts…the 3.05 starters ERA leads the American League during that span, ranking 2nd in the Majors to San Diego (2.98)…during that span Luis Castillo is 2-3 with a 3.67 ERA (17 ER, 41.2 IP) with 13 walks and 41 strikeouts in 7 starts…George Kirby is 4-3 with a 2.80 ERA (14 ER, 45.0 IP) with 5 walks and 42 strikeouts in 7 starts…Logan Gilbert is 4-1 with a 3.05 ERA (15 ER, 44.1 IP) with 8 walks and 35 strikeouts in 7 starts…Bryan Woo is 1-1 with a 3.45 ERA (12 ER, 31.1 IP) with 10 walks and 36 strikeouts in 6 starts…Bryce Miller is 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA (8 ER, 31.0 IP) with 10 walks and 31 strikeouts in 6 starts.
CAL THE BIRD HUNTER…Cal Raleigh hit 2 home runs in yesterday’s win, his 5th career multi-homer effort, his 3rd of the season and his 2nd against Toronto (other: 4/30 at TOR)…in 12 career games against the Blue Jays (including postseason), Raleigh is batting .326 (14×43) with 12 runs, 1 double, 8 homers, 16 RBI and 2 walks, getting on base at a .348 clip, slugging .907 with a robust 1.255 OPS…Raleigh has 6 HR across his last 6 games against Toronto (including postseason).
HOMER HAPPY IN THE THIRD…Cal Raleigh and Dylan Moore hit back-to-back home runs off Kevin Gausman in the bottom of the 3rd yesterday…it marked the 5th time this season that Seattle hit back-to-back home runs, with Raleigh/Moore joining Teoscar Hernández and Jarred Kelenic (4/12 at CHC), J.P. Crawford and Julio Rodríguez (4/26 at PHI), Crawford and Ty France (5/23 vs. OAK) and Hernández and Raleigh (6/22 at NYY)…Rodríguez also homered in the 3rd inning off Gausman yesterday, marking the first time Seattle’s hit 3+ HR in the same inning since Aug. 3, 2022 at New York-AL, when Eugenio Suárez, Carlos Santana and Jarred Kelenic all homered off Gerrit Cole in the 1st inning of a 7-3 Mariners win.
JULIO EN JULIO…Julio Rodríguez went 1-for-3 with his 14th home run of the season yesterday…it marked Julio’s first homer since June 24 at Baltimore…in 16 July games, the 22-year-old outfielder is batting .279 (19×68) with 8 runs, 4 doubles, 1 home run, 9 RBI and 7 walks, getting on base at a .364 clip.
YOU’VE GOT OUR VOGT…the Mariners bullpen has 23 saves and a 3.75 ERA (136 ER, 326.0 IP) with 130 walks and 370 strikeouts through 98 games this season…Seattle’s bullpen ranks 2nd in strikeouts-per-9 innings (10.21), T6th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.85) and 4th in FIP (3.76)…Matt Brash is 4-3 with 1 save and a 3.57 ERA (16 ER, 40.1 IP) with 17 walks and 70 strikeouts…Justin Topa is 1-3 with 2 saves and a 2.84 ERA (12 ER, 38.0 IP) with 11 walks and 36 strikeouts…Paul Sewald is 3-0 with 19 saves and a 2.95 ERA (13 ER, 39.2 IP) with 13 walks and 58 strikeouts.
HEY, YOU’RE A BIG LEAGUER…nine players (7 pitchers) have made their Major League debut with Seattle this season: INF José Caballero (4/15 vs. COL), RHP Bryce Miller (5/2 at OAK), RHP Juan Then (5/6 vs. HOU), RHP Bryan Woo (6/3 at TEX), RHP Ty Adcock (6/12 vs. MIA), RHP Isaiah Campbell (7/7 at HOU), RHP Devin Sweet (7/19 vs. MIN), OF Cade Marlowe (7/20 vs. MIN) and RHP Prelander Berroa (7/21 vs. TOR).
AS YOU MAY KNOW…Teoscar Hernández delivered the go-ahead, eventual game-winning 2-run double in the 7th inning of yesterday’s 9-8 win…it marked his second consecutive game with a go-ahead RBI in the 7th inning or later after supplying the walk-off hit in the bottom of the 9th in Friday’s game, but…DID YOU KNOW?…that Hernández is the first Mariners player to deliver go-ahead RBI in the 7th inning or later in back-to-back games this season?…he is the first to do it since Carlos Santana delivered go-ahead home runs on July 9-10, 2022, also vs. Toronto…Santana hit a 2-run homer in the 7th inning on July 9 to give Seattle a 2-1 lead, the eventual final score…Santana hit a 2-run homer the next day in the 8th inning to give Seattle a 6-5 lead, also the eventual final score.
MARINERS STARTER –
RHP BRYAN WOO
2023/Career MLB Breakdown:
W-L ERA G/GS IP H R ER BB SO HR
Overall 1-2 4.74 8/8 38.0 36 23 20 12 47 6
Home 0-1 5.79 3/3 14.0 17 11 9 4 20 4
Road 1-1 4.13 5/5 24.0 19 12 11 8 27 2
vs. TOR 0-0 -.– 0/0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
LAST TIME OUT…L#2 in his 8th Major League start vs. Minnesota, tossed 3.1 innings and allowed 7 runs (6 earned) on 8 hits and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts.
HIGH QUALITY…recorded his 2nd career quality start after pitching 6.0 innings and allowing just 1 earned run against Houston…his first career quality start came on 7/3 against San Francisco.
HOME SWEET HOME…he is set to make his 4th start at T-Mobile Park tonight…in his previous 3 home starts this season Woo has a 5.79 ERA (9 ER, 14.0 IP) with 4 walks and 20 strikeouts.
AMONG MARINERS GREATS…Woo’s 47 strikeouts are the 3rd most in Mariners history in a pitcher’s first 8 career starts, he trails only Félix Hernández (55) and Michael Pineda (52).
IN THE WIN COLUMN…Woo earned his 1st career win on 6/22 against New York-AL…he carried a no hitter into the 6th inning before giving up a 1-out single to Gelyber Torres…he became the 5th Mariners pitcher this season to carry a no-hitter into the 6th inning (also: Bryce Miller, Logan Gilbert, Luis Castillo, Easton McGee).
CAREER-HIGH PUNCHIES…recorded a new career high in strikeouts in his outing against the White Sox on 6/16 with 9…his Minor League career high is 11 which he achieved on 8/19/22 against Vancouver.
IN THE ZONE…has allowed 12 walks while striking out 47 batters in 8 starts…he currently has a 3.92 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
