TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays used a trio of home runs to power their way to a 7-1 win over the Yankees last night… Improved to 28-21 in series openers. Toronto has won four straight, 12 of its last 18, and is 17-11 over its last 28 contests…Is a season-high-tying 17 games over .500 (80-63 on Sept. 10)…Enters today holding the 2nd AL Wild Card spot, one game ahead of both Texas (83-68) and Seattle (83-68).
BO-ING FOR DISTANCE: Bo Bichette boosted Toronto’s lead to 4-1 in the 5th inning last night with a two-run homer to right-center field…Marked his 19th bomb of the season and his MLB-leading 69th opposite-field hit (2nd: Luis Arraez – 65). The two-time All-Star also singled, walked, and scored another run to finish 2-for-4…Marked his team-leading 47th multi-hit effort of the season (7th in the AL)… Now has 159 hits this season, tied for 6th among AL batters, despite missing 25 games with injuries…Is currently 3rd in the AL with a .304 batting average.
KIRKY CRANKS IT: Alejandro Kirk connected for a two-run homer in the 9th inning last night…Was his 7th longball of the season and his 1st since homering twice on July 29 vs. LAA, ending a career-long 34-game homerless skid…Has gone 16-for-55 (.291) with nine extra-base hits, nine RBI, and an 11BB/8K ratio over his last 20 contests…His 0.95 BB/K rate for the season is 5th best among AL hitters (min. 300 PA).
BIGGI-OBP: Cavan Biggio gave Toronto a 2-1 lead in the 4th inning last night with an RBI single…Added another single in the 6th for a 2-for-5 evening…Is now 14-for-41 (.341) with three doubles, a home run, nine RBI, and a 7BB/8K ratio over his last 13 games (.916 OPS)…Held a .265 OBP before the All-Star break, but since then has reached at a .410 clip…The 145-point increase is currently the largest in franchise history (min. 100 PA)…courtesy Stats Perform.
BINARY RESULTS: The Blue Jays have now kept opponents to one or no runs on an MLB-high 40 occasions this season (2nd: LAD – 35)…Have tied the franchise record, having also pitched 40 such games in 1991.
ONE LAST RIDE: The Blue Jays are on their final road trip of the regular season (1-0 so far)…Own a 43-33 road record this season for a .566 win%, 3rd best in the AL (5th in MLB)…Have gone 23-11 over their last 34 road games for a .676 win%, the 3rd-best road record in the Majors since June 20 (BAL – .700, LAD .684). Blue Jays rank 2nd among AL clubs with a .265 road batting average, 2nd in road OBP (.335), 3rd in road OPS (.769), and 4th in road SLG (.434)…The pitching staff ranks 2nd in the AL in road ERA (3.87), 9th in road opponents’ average (.250), and 10th in road WHIP (1.27).
PITCHING IN: Toronto pitchers have combined for a 3.73 ERA this season, 2nd best in the Majors (1st: SEA – 3.70)… The 3.73 ERA is currently 5th best in team history and the club’s best since 2008 (3.49)…Have recorded 1,415 strikeouts, 3rd most in MLB and 2nd most in team history (1,468 in 2021)…Rank 5th in the AL in opponents’ batting average (.239) and 5th in WHIP (1.24)…The rotation has recorded 66 quality starts, 4th most in the AL (T-6th in MLB).
DIVISIONAL DETAILS: The Blue Jays are wrapping up the regular season with 15 straight division games (4-0 so far)…Have won eight of their last 10 games vs. AL East clubs… Have gone 16-25 against divisional opponents this season, tied for the 3rd fewest intra-division wins in
MLB (COL – 12; OAK – 13; WAS – 16).
THE D-JAYS: The Blue Jays played their 97th error-free game last night to surpass last season’s total (96)…According to Sports Info Solutions, Toronto fielders have recorded a total of 86 Defensive Runs Saved, the most in the Majors (2nd: MIL – 66)…The group is led by an MLB-high 33 runs saved in center field, 15 more than any other team (PHI – 18)…Daulton Varsho ranks 1st in MLB with 27 total runs saved (2nd: Fernando Tatis – 24)…Varsho leads all center fielders with 17 DRS while his 10 DRS in left are 3rd most.
VS. THE YANKEES: All-Time: 319-388
2023: 4-4 Road: 151-203
Road: 3-1 Yankee Stadium: 51-79
The Blue Jays dropped three of four games in Toronto when they last met the Yankees in May…Are now 4-4 vs. the Pinstripes this year, having gone 3-1 in the Bronx…Are 16-8 at Yankee Stadium since the start of the 2021 season for a .667 win%, the best among all AL teams over that span.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is 6-for-24 with two doubles, two homers, and seven RBI in seven games vs. New York this season (.880 OPS)…Is a lifetime .286 (78- for-273) hitter against the Pinstripes, with 16 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs, and 48 RBI in 72 meetings (.865 OPS)…Has gone 39-for-137 (.285) with six doubles, 12 homers, and 21 RBI in his 35 games at Yankee Stadium (.934 OPS)…His .591 SLG at the current venue is the 2nd highest all-time, just behind Aaron Judge’s .603 mark (min. 100 AB).
Bo Bichette has batted .333 (11-for-33) with two doubles, two home runs, and five RBI in the seven games vs. NYY this season…Now holds a career average of .318 (77-for-242) across 59 games vs. the Yankees, including 19 doubles, 12 home runs, and 38 RBI (.903 OPS).
Kevin Kiermaier leads all current Blue Jays with 112 career games vs. New York…Has hit .239 (92-for385) with 13 doubles, six triples, 14 homers, and 29 RBI in those contests (.713 OPS).
STARTING PITCHER – Kevin Gausman, RHP #34
TODAY’S GAME: Making his 30th start of the season and his 15th on the road…Took the loss his last time out, on 9/14 vs. TEX, giving up 4 runs on 6 hits and a career-high-tying 6 walks over 4.2 innings with 5 strikeouts. His 222 strikeouts are the most in the AL (Pablo López – 221), and are the 4th most ever by a Blue Jay in their first 29 outings of a season (Roger Clemens – 244 in 1997, Robbie Ray – 233 in 2021, Roger Clemens – 227 in 1998). Owns a 2.85 FIP since the start of the 2020 season, the best mark among qualified hurlers (2nd: Corbin Burnes – 2.87).
2023 HIGHLIGHTS: Picked up his 11th win of the year on 9/9 vs. KC, throwing 8.0 frames of one-run ball with 2 hits, a walk, and 10 strikeouts…Was his AL-leading 8th start with double-digit strikeouts. Earned his 10th win of the year on 8/28 vs. WAS, giving up 3 runs over 5.0 innings (7H, 2BB, 7K)…Became the 3rd pitcher in team history with backto-back 200-strikeout seasons, joining Roger Clemens (1997-1998) and Roy Halladay (2008-2009). Tossed 6.0 frames of 2-run ball on 8/23 at BAL, giving up 5 hits and a walk with 8 strikeouts…Was his 17th quality start of the year. Named an All-Star for the 2nd time in his career (also: 2021). Took the loss on 6/27 vs. SF, tossing 6.0 frames of one-run ball with 3 hits, a walk, and 12 strikeouts…Fanned LaMonte Wade Jr. in the 4th inning to reach 1,500 career strikeouts, becoming the 21st active player to reach the mark…Was his MLB-leading 7th double-digit strikeout game of 2023. Pitched 7.0 frames of one-run ball on 6/6 vs. HOU, scattering 4 hits with no walks and a career-high-tying 13 strikeouts (also: 13K on 4/29/23 vs. SEA)…Became the 4th player (8th time) in franchise history to punch out at least 13 batters without any walks in a single game (last: José Berríos on 7/12/22 vs. PHI). Tossed 7.0 shutout innings on 4/29 vs. SEA, giving up 5 hits with a walk and a career-high 13 strikeouts…Threw a then season-high 108 pitches
(74 strikes) while inducing a career-high 28 swing-and-misses…Got 20 whiffs on his splitter alone, the most on a single pitch in the Majors this season, and the most on a splitter in the pitch-tracking era (since 2008).
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
Set career-best marks in 2021 innings pitched (192.0), wins (14), quality starts (20), ERA (2.81), strikeouts (227), opponents’ AVG (.210), and WHIP (1.04). Named an All-Star for the 1st time in his career in 2021 and finished 6th in NL Cy Young voting…Signed a 5-year deal with Toronto on 12/1/21. Selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1st round (4th overall) of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft.
VS. THE YANKEES:
Facing the Yankees for the 3rd time this season and the 30th time in his career (24th start)…Tossed 7.0 innings in both meetings with the Yankees this season, allowing a total of 3R/2ER (1.29 ERA) with 21 strikeouts, a 0.71 WHIP, and a .167 OPP AVG…Has met the Bronx Bombers 5 times in a Blue Jays uniform, going 2-1 with a 1.64 ERA (6 ER/33.0 IP) and a 0.85 WHIP.
NEW YORK YANKEES NOTES:
AT A GLANCE: The Yankees continue their final homestand of the season tonight with the second game of a three-game set vs. Toronto (0-1 thus far)…will also play a three-game series vs. Arizona this weekend (Fri.-Sun.)…went 5-2 on their recent seven-game road trip, winning three-of-four games at Boston and winning two-of-three at Pittsburgh. Have won three of their last five games and six of their last nine games (since 9/10). Have posted a 14-7 (.667) record since 8/28, tied with Baltimore for the best record in the Majors in that span. Are 16-10 in their last 26 games (since 8/23). Eight of the Yankees’ last 10 wins have been come-from-behind wins (since 9/2). Have won five of their last six completed series (since 8/28).
GOT YOUR NUMBER: DH/OF Giancarlo Stanton has hit .417/.417/.667 (5-for-12) with 1HR in his career against Toronto’s Kevin Gausman…OF Aaron Judge has hit .300/.432/.667 (9-for-30) with 2 doubles, 3HR and 6BB vs. Gausman.
FOR STARTERS: Yankees starters have posted a 3.18 ERA (147.0IP, 52ER) in their last 28 games (since 8/20)…have allowed 3ER-or-fewer in 25 of those 28 starts and 2ER-orfewer in 20 of those starts.
ON A ROLL: INF Oswald Peraza had his career-high 10- game on-base streak snapped on Tuesday (9/6-9/17)…is still hitting .315/.339/.463 (17-for-54) with 3R, 5 doubles, 1HR, 6RBI and 2BB in his last 14 games (since 9/2).
GO WITH THE FLO: OF Estevan Florial has reached base safely in each of his last six games (since 9/12-G2), reaching base in 11-of-26 PA over that span (.423 OBP, 5H, 4BB, 2HP).
BATTERS’ EYE: Since the All-Star break, the Yankees lead the Majors with a 9.24 PA/BB ratio and a 4.04 pitches per plate appearance ratio…prior to the All-Star break, ranked 20th in the Majors in PA/BB (11.90) and P/PA (3.86).
GLEYBER DAY: INF Gleyber Torres recorded multiple hits and drove in the Yankees’ only run on Tuesday with a game-tying RBI double in the first inning…has recorded multiple hits in two of his last three games (since 9/16) and four of his last seven games (since 9/12-G2).Has reached base multiple times in 12 of his last 19 games (since 8/28) and 14 of his last 23 games (since 8/24). His team-leading 43 multi-hit games this year are a career high. Is batting .315/.406/.562 (51-for-162) with 27R, 13 doubles, 9HR, 22RBI, 23BB, 2HP and 5SB in his last 43 games (since
8/1)…has hit safely in 30 of those games and has reached base safely in 36 of those contests…his .968 OPS since 8/1 is the sixth-highest in the AL (min. 130PA). Since 7/6, is batting .308/.376/.525 (74-for-240) with 37R, 14 doubles, 1 triple, 12HR, 30RBI, 26BB, 2HP, 3SF and 6SB in 62 games. Has recorded a career-high 62BB in 148G this season. Has hit .342/.359/.534 (25-for-73) with 10R, 5 doubles, 3HR, 17RBI, 2BB, 2SF and 1HP in his last 18 games against Toronto (since 5/11/22)…in his last 29 games vs. the Blue Jays (since 9/28/21), has hit .321/.339/.545 (36- for-112) with 15R, 7 doubles, 6HR, 23RBI and 3BB.
LEMACHINE: INF DJ LeMahieu reached base twice on Tuesday vs. Toronto…has hit safely in each of his last six games (since 9/12-G1), batting .360/.407/.480 (9-for25) with 4R, 3 doubles, 5RBI and 2BB. Has reached base in 16 of his last 17 games (since 8/30), 34 of his last 37 games (since 8/1), 51 of his last 56 games (since 7/4) and 58 of his last 65 games (since 6/23). Is a career .332/.387/.524 (90-for-271) batter with 42R, 20 doubles, 1 triple, 10HR, 31RBI, 23BB and 4SB in 70 games vs. the Blue Jays…in 67 games vs. Toronto as a Yankee, has hit .336/.392/.531 (88-for-262) with 42R, 19 doubles, 1 triple, 10HR, 31RBI, 23BB and 4SB…owns the highest BA among players with at least 100PA against the Blue
Jays as a Yankee (next: Oscar Gamble, .331, 48-for-145). Since the All-Star break, has batted .280/.380/.457 (52- for-186) in 51 games…prior to the break, had batted .220/.285/.357 (61-for-277) in 76 games.
KING OF THE HILL: RHP Michael King will make his seventh start of the season tonight vs. Toronto…as a starter this season, has gone 1-2 with a 1.93 ERA (23.1IP, 5ER) and 32K…has recorded 17K over his last two starts (9.2IP). Since 7/21, has gone 2-2 with a 1.98 ERA (36.1IP, 8ER)
and 51K in 15 games (six starts).
PITCH PERFECT: Yankees pitchers have posted a 3.25 ERA (83.0IP, 30ER) and 85K over their last nine games (since 9/10). WHAT A RELIEF: Yankees relievers have posted a Major League-best 3.29 ERA this season…also lead the Majors with a .218 opponents’ BA…rank second in the Majors in
HR/9.0IP (0.87) and third in WHIP (1.21).
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP MICHAEL KING (4-6, 2.77 ERA)
RHP Michael King will make his 47th appearance (seventh start) of the season tonight vs. Toronto…the 28-year old will pitch on extended five days’ rest due to Monday’s team off day…made his last start in Game 1 of Thursday’s doubleheader at Boston, taking his sixth loss of the season after allowing just 1ER in 4.2IP (6H, 1BB, 8K, 0HR)…in his last five starts (since 8/24), is 1-1 with a 1.27 ERA (21.1IP, 3ER) and 29K in that span…his 1.27 ERA leads the AL and ranks third in the Majors in that span (min. 20.0IP)…is 4-6 with six saves and a 2.77 ERA (87.2IP, 74H, 30R/27ER, 27BB, 108K, 7HR) in 46 appearances (six starts) this season…in six starts this season, has gone 1-2 with a 1.93 ERA (23.1IP, 5ER) and 32K…as a reliever this season, is 3-4 with six saves, a 3.08 ERA (64.1IP, 22ER) and 76K in 40 appearances…has thrown 2.0 innings-or-more in 21 of his 46 appearances this season (15 in relief, six starts), with 13 of those 21 outings being scoreless…his 12 relief appearances of at least 2.0 scoreless innings are the most in the AL and tied for the most in the Majors…has recorded at least five outs in 26 of his 46 outings this season (20 in relief, six starts)…his 20 such relief appearances are tied for the third-most in the AL and tied for the fifth-most in the Majors…over five seasons with the Yankees (2019-23), has gone 13-15 with seven saves and a 3.43 ERA (230.2IP, 98R/88ER, 78BB, 263K, 21HR) in 112 appearances (16 starts)…was acquired by the Yankees from Miami along with 2017-18 signing bonus pool money in exchange for INF Garrett Cooper and LHP Caleb Smith on 11/20/17.
LAST TIME OUT: Last started in Game 1 of Thursday’s doubleheader at Boston, taking his sixth loss of the season after allowing just 1ER in 4.2IP (6H, 1BB, 8K, 0HR)… his 87 pitches marked a career high. Allowed his only run by an RBI single to Wilyer Abreu in the first inning. Was his second straight start of eight-or-more strikeouts…marked the first time in his career he has recorded eight-or-more strikeouts in consecutive outings.
FOR STARTERS: Has made six starts for the Yankees this season, going 1-2 with a 1.93 ERA (23.1IP, 5ER) and 32K. In his last five starts (since 8/24), is 1-1 with a 1.27 ERA (21.1IP, 3ER) and 29K in that span…his 1.27 ERA leads the AL and ranks third in the Majors in that span (min. 20.0IP). Has allowed 2R-or-fewer in each of his six starts this season. Has surrendered 1BB-or-fewer in five of his six starts and 0BB in three starts. Earned his first career win as a starter on 9/3 at Houston after allowing just 1ER over 5.0IP (5H, 0BB, 4K). In 16 career starts, has gone 1-7 with a 4.79 ERA (62.0IP, 33ER) and 68K.
VS. TORONTO: Has made 16 career appearances (two starts) vs. the Blue Jays, going 2-1 with two saves, a 3.75 ERA (36.0IP, 15ER) and 29K. Will mark his fourth outing vs. Toronto this season…has posted a 2.45 ERA (3.2IP, 1ER) in three relief appearances against the Blue Jays this year. In seven career appearances vs. Toronto at home, has one save with a 3.18 ERA (17.0IP, 6ER).
HOME SWEET HOME: In 24 appearances (two starts) at home this season, has gone 2-3 with three saves, and a 3.66 ERA (39.1IP, 39H, 16ER, 15BB, 50K, 4HR). Has recorded four-or-more outs in 16 of his 24 home outings this season. Made his first home start of the season on 8/24 vs. Washington, recording a no decision after allowing 1R/0ER over 2.2IP (1H, 2BB, 3K). In six career starts at Yankee Stadium, has gone 0-2 with a 3.86 ERA (25.2IP, 26H, 14/11ER, 9BB, 29K, 3HR). In 59 career home appearances (six starts), is 9-7 with four saves and a 3.56 ERA (113.2IP, 108H, 51R/45ER, 40BB, 136K, 14HR, 6HP).
KING OF THE HILL: Is 4-6 with six saves and a 2.77 ERA (87.2IP, 74H, 30R/27ER, 27BB, 108K, 7HR) in 46 appearances (six starts) this season. In six starts for the Yankees this season, has gone 1-2 with a 1.93 ERA (23.1IP, 5ER) and 32K. Did not issue a walk from 8/29-9/3, matching his career high in consecutive innings with a walk (9.0IP, also from 9/27/19-8/2/20). Has allowed 2R-or-fewer in each of his six starts this season. Did not allow a run in eight straight relief outings from 7/21-8/16…recorded 17K over 11.2 scoreless innings during that span. Has thrown 2.0 innings-or-more in 21 of his 46 appearances this season (15 in relief, six in starts), with 13 of those 21 outings being scoreless…his 12 relief appearances of at least 2.0 scoreless innings are the most in the AL and tied for the most in the Majors. Has recorded at least five outs in 26 of his 46 outings this season (20 in relief, six starts)…his 20 such relief appearances are tied for the third-most in the AL and tied for the fourth-most in the Majors. Has recorded at least 1K in 35 of his 41 relief outings this season…has collected multiple strikeouts in 27 of those appearances…has 3K-or-more in 12 relief outings this season, the fifth-most such games among AL relievers and the seventh-most in the Majors. Has recorded multiple strikeouts in a career-high 12 straight games (since 7/28)…has recorded multiple strikeouts in 19 of his last 22 outings (since 6/23). As a reliever, has gone 3-4 with six saves and a 3.08 ERA (64.1IP, 51H, 23R/22ER, 23BB, 76K, 6HR). Has six saves this season after entering 2023 with just one career save…has tossed more than 1.0 inning in four of his six saves this season.
