TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays plated a trio of runs in the top of the 11th to take last night’s game at Dodger Stadium by a score of 6-3…Marked their first win at Dodger Stadium since June 10, 2007…Are now 7-5 in extra-inning contests, having claimed all three such games this month… Improved to 17-16 in series openers. Toronto has won 11 of its last 16 games and has gone 30-20 over its last 50 contests…Its .600 win% over that span (since May 26) is the highest in the AL (2nd: BAL – .580).
VAR-SHO’ING UP AT THE RIGHT TIME: Daulton Varsho had the game-winning hit last night as his 11th-inning double drove in two runs…Is now 3-for-6 with four RBI during extra-inning at-bats this season…Had singled earlier in the night to finish 2-for5, his first game with multiple hits since June 17 at TEX, and his first game with multiple RBI since June 2 at NYM.
BATT CHAPMAN: Matt Chapman gave Toronto a 3-2 lead in the 8th inning last night with a solo shot to right-center field… Was his 13th homer of the campaign and his 40th as a Blue Jay. The third baseman also drew a walk and reached on an error to go 1-for-4 with two runs scored…Currently leads the AL with 31 doubles while ranking 5th with 45 extra-base hits…Over his last 27 games, has batted .266 (25-for-94) with eight doubles, a triple, four home runs, nine RBI, and 17 walks (.884 OPS)…Ranks 2nd in MLB with a 59.8 hard-hit percentage (1st: Aaron Judge – 62.6), 7th in average exit velocity (94.0 MPH), and 9th in hard-hit balls (149).
TWO²-HIT WHIT: Whit Merrifield recorded four singles and scored a run as part of a 4-for-5 evening…The four hits matched his season best (4-for-4 on May 22 at TB) and marked his 12th career game with 4+ knocks. The three-time All-Star has reached base safely in 14 of his last 15 contests with a plate appearance while hitting .379 (22-for-58) with a double, four home runs, and 12 RBI (1.016 OPS)…Is now batting .299 on the season, good for 7th among AL hitters, while his 20 stolen bases are tied for 8th.
VLAD TIMING: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. tied yesterday’s game, 2-2, in the 5th inning with a 109.2 MPH single to left…His 65 RBI are currently 7th most in the AL…Has gone 25-for-98 (.255) over his last 25 games, including six doubles, eight homers, and 23 RBI for an .882 OPS… Has recorded an AL-leading 176 hard-hit balls (95+
MPH) this season (2nd: Kyle Tucker – 156).
BRAND-ON BASE: Brandon Belt recorded his 18th double last night… Over his last 51 contests, has batted .284 (46-for162) with 14 doubles, seven homers, 19 RBI, and 35 walks…His .412 OBP over that span (since May 4) is 3rd highest in the AL (min. 150 PA) while his .921 OPS is 10th best…His 4.50 pitches/PA this season tops
all AL batters (min. 150 PA).
STARTING FROM THE BOTTOM: Kevin Kiermaier got Toronto on the board last night with an RBI single in the 5th…Also singled in the 3rd for a 2-for-5 night…Has recorded 59 hits while batting 9th, the most in the Majors (2nd: Michael Harris II – 55)…Is 12-for-37 (.324) with a double, a homer, and five RBI across his last 13 games played (.798 OPS).
WORKING OUT WEST: The Blue Jays are on a six-game, six-day road trip to the left coast (2-2 so far)…Own a 29-25 road record this season for a .537 win%, 3rd best in the AL…Will follow up this three-game series in LA with a day off on Thursday and then a seven-game homestand vs. the Angels (51-49) and the Orioles (62-38).
Blue Jays hitters rank 3rd among AL clubs in road AVG (.259), 3rd in road OBP (.325), 5th in road OPS (.745), 6th in road SLG (.420)…The pitching staff ranks 10th
in the AL in road ERA (4.24), 11th in road WHIP (1.33), and 13th in road opponents’ AVG (.257).
ROMANO-MATIC: Jordan Romano pitched a clean 11th inning last night for his 28th save, tying Félix Bautista for the most in the AL (T-3rd in MLB)…Has converted 18 consecutive save opportunities, the 2nd-longest active streak in the Majors (Carlos Estévez – 23)…Has kept batters to 0-for-15 across five extra-inning outings this season (3BB, 6K).
THE GÉNESIS OF A BLUE JAYS CAREER: Génesis Cabrera was acquired from St. Louis on July 21 and made his Toronto debut last night as he came on for the 6th inning…Fanned his 1st batter (Jason Heyward) as part of a 1-2-3 frame.
JAY’S WAY: Jay Jackson improved his record to 3-0 with hitless 9th and 10th innings last night…Has allowed one run over 14.0 frames while up with the Blue Jays this year.
STARTING SOMETHING: Toronto pitchers have combined for 47 quality starts, tied for 3rd most in the Majors…The starting rotation ranks 3rd in MLB in strikeouts (575), 5th in innings pitched (552.1), 7th in ERA (3.91), and 9th in opponents’ average (.243).
HITTING IT: Toronto batters have notched 906 hits this season, 3rd most in the AL (4th in MLB)…Are also currently 3rd in the AL in team AVG (.261), 4th in OBP (.330), 5th in OPS (.746), 6th in SLG (.416), and 7th in extra-base hits (302).
INTERTAINMENT: Toronto is playing its 11th interleague series of the year…Has gone 21-9 vs. NL clubs so far…The .700 win% in interleague games is the best among MLB teams (2nd: MIA – .667) and matches the best in team history (.700 in 2021)…Has set a club record with the 21 wins vs. NL clubs (14 in 2021).
VS. THE DODGERS: All-Time: 8-14
2023: 1-0 Road: 4-6
Road: 1-0 Dodger Stadium: 4-6
The Blue Jays are meeting the Dodgers for the first time since 2019, when they were swept in a three-game series at Chavez Ravine…Have gone 8-14 all-time vs. the Dodgers for a .364 win%, their lowest vs. any opponent (.421 vs. NYM).
George Springer is 7-for-30 (.233) with three doubles, two home runs, and five RBI across his eight career games played against the Dodgers (.836 OPS). Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette visited Dodgers Stadium as rookies in 2019…Guerrero Jr. went 5-for-7 with a solo homer and three walks across the three game series, while Bichette finished 3-for-13 with a pair of solo home runs.
Brandon Belt leads all current Blue Jays with 148 career games played vs. his former division rival… Has hit .238 (116-for-487) with 30 doubles, a triple, 17 home runs, 63 RBI, and 70 walks (.747 OPS).
STARTING PITCHER – Chris Bassitt, RHP #40
TODAY’S GAME: Making his 22nd start of the season and his 12th on the road…Improved to 10-5 his last time out, on 7/20 vs. SD, throwing 6.0 shutout innings with 4 hits, a walk, and 5 strikeouts…Marked his 14th quality start of the year, tied for 3rd most in the AL. Has 7 starts of at least 6.0 scoreless innings this year, the most in MLB and tied for 3rd most in team history (Rogers Clemens – 9 in 1997; Dave Stieb – 8 in 1990). Has held opposing RHH to a .204 AVG, the 10th-best mark in the AL.
2023 HIGHLIGHTS: Picked up his 9th win of the year on 7/15 vs. ARI, tossing 6.0 frames of two-run ball (7H, 0BB, 5K)…Was his 13th quality start of the season. Gave up 3 runs over 4.0 innings on 7/9 at DET, allowing 9 hits with no walks and 4 strikeouts. Took a no-decision on 7/4 at CWS, giving up 3 runs over 6.0 innings of work (6H, BB, 5K). 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). Tossed 7.0 shutout innings on 5/17 vs. NYY, giving up 3 hits, a walk, and a hit batter with 7 strikeouts…Became just the 4th non-opener in Blue Jays history to throw 3 consecutive scoreless starts in a single season, joining Roger Clemens (1998), Al Leiter (1995), and Dave Stieb (1988). 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 8 on 103 pitches (70 strikes).
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS: Has finished seven of his eight career Major League seasons with a sub4.00 ERA, including each of the last five campaigns. Tossed the 1st complete game and shutout of his career on 5/27/21 vs. LAA (9.0 IP, 2H, BB, 9K). Received two 5th-place votes in AL Cy Young balloting in 2021, finishing 10th in the vote…Earned his 1st All-Star honours. Earned AL Pitcher of the Month for September 2020, his 1st monthly award…Pitched to a 0.34 ERA that month, allowing one run over 26.2 innings in four starts…Was the lowest September ERA in the Majors since Greg Maddux had a 0.29 ERA for Atlanta in 1995. 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 DODGERS: Facing the Dodgers for the 4th time in his career…Met LAD twice in 2022 as a member of the Mets, giving up 5 runs over 12.0 combined frames (3.75 ERA) with 5 walks and 12 strikeouts…Has thrown 6.0 innings in all 3 career starts against the Dodgers, posting a 4.50 ERA (9 ER/18.0 IP) with 6 free passes and 16 punchouts.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS NOTES:
EXTRA LET DOWN: The Dodgers lost their second straight game last night, losing to the Toronto Blue Jays in 11 innings, 6-3. The loss dropped the club’s record in extra-innings to 3-4 on the season and the Boys in Blue are now 11-7 in the month of July. As the Dodgers continue their nine-game homestand (0-1), they will need wins over the Jays tonight and tomorrow afternoon in order to win their sixth consecutive series. Following a 1:10 p.m. series finale with the Jays tomorrow, the team will enjoy an off day on Thursday, before closing out the homestand with games vs. the Cincinnati Reds (July 28-30) and Oakland A’s (Aug 1-3). The Dodgers hold a 4.0-game lead over Arizona in the National League West and have held a share of first place every day since the All-Star break. The Dodgers have the best home record in the National League at 29-17 (.630), slightly ahead of the Atlanta Braves (32-19, .627). The Dodgers have the second-best record in the National League and their +103 run differential is the fourth best in the Majors, trailing Texas (150), Atlanta (148) and Tampa Bay (144).
MAXIMUM HOT STREAK: The Dodgers gave up three runs in the 11th frame and lost to Toronto in extra innings, 6-3. The club held an early 2-0 lead and then came back to tie the game at 3-3 in the eighth inning on Max Muncy’s 25th home run of the season, but it wasn’t enough as the Dodgers lost to the Blue Jays for the first time since May 6, 2016. Muncy and Jason Heyward each had two hits and a homer while starter Michael Grove allowed just two runs while striking out six, but failed to get through 5.0 innings. Dodger starters have gone more than 5.0 innings just five times this month and have a 6.13 ERA in July, which is the second worst in baseball (Pittsburgh, 7.40). Muncy’s homer last night gives him a longball in three consecutive games and he has now driven in a run in a Dodger season high six consecutive contests. Muncy becomes just the 11th Dodger in history to have four or more 25+ homer season (2018-19, 2021, 2023), joining Gil Hodges (9), Duke Snider (7), Eric Karros (5), Roy Campanella (4), Ron Cey (4), Pedro Guerrero (4), Matt Kemp (4), Raul Mondesi (4), Mike Piazza (4) and Joc Pederson (4).
OH, CANADA: The Dodgers are 14-8 all-time vs. the Blue Jays and have won eight of their last 10 vs. Toronto since 2013. This series marks the first meeting between the two clubs since the Jays paid a visit to Dodger Stadium in 2019 and were swept. Los Angeles is 17-12 (.586) in Interleague play this year and over the last 10 seasons, the Dodgers have the highest winning percentage (.617) in Interleague play with a 129-80 record, ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays (126-86, .594).
BIG BOPPIN’ BETTS: All-Star outfielder Mookie Betts went 1-for-5 with a double, a run scored and a walk last night and is slashing .363/.480/.800 with eight homers, 20 RBI and 22 runs scored in his last 21 games. Betts ranks second in the National League in home runs with 27 while ranking fifth in slugging (.566), third in OPS (.945) and third in runs (79). Since May 1, the 2018 American League MVP is hitting .292 (80-for-274) with 23 homers, 56 RBI and a 1.006 OPS. During that span, he is tied for third in the Majors in homers, third in runs (62), third in OPS, sixth in RBI and tied for third in extra-base hits (42).
STEADY FREDDIE: Dodger first baseman Freddie Freeman went 1-for-5 last night in his first game back at home after hitting .441 (15-for-34) with four doubles, one triple, three homers, nine RBI and 13 runs scored on the just completed road trip. According to ESPN Stats & Info, Freeman is the 1st player in Dodgers history with at least 20 HR and 35 2B before the end of July. Freeman ranks second in the Major Leagues in runs scored (85), trailing only Ronald Acuña Jr. (87) for the MLB lead. He also leads the Major Leagues with 35 doubles, is second with 57 extra-base hits and ranks third with a .329 average. Freeman has reached base safely in 24 straight games since June 24 and during that time he is slashing .361/.446/.670 with 17 extra-base hits, 23 RBI and 25 runs scored. His career-long on-base streak is 46 games, set in 2016.
PROVIDING THE POP: The Dodger offense continues to be at the top of the Major Leagues in various categories, including walks (421, 2nd), runs per game (5.67, 2nd), extra-base hits (360, 3rd), home runs (164, 2nd), slugging percentage (.455, 3rd) and OPS (.790, 3rd).
EARNING THE TRUST: The Dodger bullpen had to carry the load again last night, firing 6.1 innings and giving up four runs (2 ER) while striking out eight. Over the last 16 games since July 3, the club’s relievers have posted a 2.01 ERA (15 ER/67.0 IP) while Los Angeles has reeled off victories in 11 of those contests. Dodger left-hander Caleb Ferguson hasn’t allowed a run since June 11, working 14.2 consecutive scoreless innings in that time, a Dodger season best for relief pitchers. Ferguson has a 0.89 WHIP while holding hitters to a .163 average (8-for49) in that time.
TONIGHT’S STARTER vs. BLUE JAYS: LHP JULIO URĺAS (7-6, 5.02 ERA in 14 GS)
2023 NOTES:
- In his last start on July 19 against the Orioles, he spun five innings, giving up eight hits, eight runs and two walks while striking out two in the loss
- Over 14 starts, the southpaw owns a 7-6 record with a 5.02 ERA (42 ER/75.1 IP) with 72 strikeouts and 17 walks…has given up 15 homers and has
produced a 1.17 WHIP - Pitched a season-high seven innings, striking out a season-best 10 batters on May 2 against the Phillies
- He is 5-1 with a 2.15 ERA (9 ER/37.2 IP) and 40 strikeouts in six starts at home this season
- In his start against the Rockies on April 4, he hurled six innings of shut-out baseball, tabbing his 600TH career strikeout against Kris Bryant
- Tossed six innings on Opening Day against the Diamondbacks, giving up four hits and two earned runs while sitting down six…was his first Opening Day nod of his career
VS. BLUE JAYS:
- Will face Toronto for the first time in his career
