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New York Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Three Blue Jays takeaways: Alejandro Kirk's underrated improvement, lineup decisions, more
TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays flipped the circuit breaker and brought the power back. Toronto's bats battered the Athletics for four games, hitting eight homers and driving in 39 runs. Addison Barger launched a game-flipping homer in Sunday's series finale, snatching the Blue Jays an 8-4 win and the team's first four-game sweep of the season. The Jays moved to 29-26 on the season, sitting three games over .500 for the first time since April 19. Advertisement Here are three Blue Jays takeaways before Toronto tries to keep the power coming against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday: Alejandro Kirk is one of baseball's best defensive catchers. He's tied with San Francisco Giants backstop Patrick Bailey atop Baseball Savant's fielding run value at plus-eight. He's among the top 10 percentile in catcher blocking, caught stealing and framing. But if you ask Toronto starter Kevin Gausman, there's an aspect of Kirk's defensive game that doesn't get enough love. 'I think there's one thing that nobody really talks about,' Gausman said. 'It's his ability to call a game. He really has gotten so much better.' The issue with game-calling evaluation is it's impossible to quantify. Baseball's defensive metrics have come a long way in the last decade, but we still can't capture a catcher's ability to deviate from preset game plans, read batters' swings and earn the trust of pitchers. Toronto's second catcher, Tyler Heineman, said he looks at ERA and strikeout-to-walk ratios with catchers behind the plate to evaluate game calling but laments the lack of a definitive metric. Really, those numbers speak more to the talent of a pitching staff than the calling of a catcher. Internally, the Jays assess game calling with 'after-action reports,' manager John Schneider said, going back over pitch choices to understand why calls were made and whether they were justified. Kirk's catcher ERA is 3.99, just below the Blue Jays' overall ERA. Kirk has posted a catcher ERA below Toronto's team norm in each of the last four seasons, but Heineman notices his teammate's game-calling improvements in other ways. More and more, Kirk will step out in front of the plate to give 'signs' when he's really just giving his pitcher a needed breather. He's also getting faster at deciding on pitch choices with a clock counting down, Heineman said, and finding spots for mound visits. Advertisement 'It's all just kind of a routine song and dance,' Heineman said. 'He's doing a fantastic job at, like, learning and getting better.' For Gausman, the improvement manifests when Kirk turns to the PitchCom transmitter on his knee. Kirk has caught 367 games for the Jays over the last five years, with Gausman, Chris Bassitt and José Berríos as rotation staples for most of his career. Familiarity with those three helped Kirk learn when his pitchers' offerings are especially locked and when he's got to alter the plan. 'We definitely think alike, and that wasn't the case early on,' Gausman said. 'It's been a nice, nice adjustment by him.' How do you change a lineup that averaged 4.85 runs per game in May? Schneider will be tasked with that decision with Andrés Giménez set to return from his quad injury Tuesday. The Platinum Glove defender, who has missed Toronto's last 23 games, will return in a regular role, Schneider said, likely eating into the playing time of Barger and Ernie Clement. But those infielders have been two of the Blue Jays' top bats, posting Toronto's second- and third-best OPS in the last 15 days. Before injury, Giménez was Toronto's least-productive hitter with at least 30 games played this year. Giménez's fielding value will keep him in the lineup. Despite hitting just .195 before his quad injury, the former Cleveland Guardians infielder still posted 0.8 bWAR in just 36 contests. That's more than George Springer and Nathan Lukes, two of Toronto's best bats, have compiled all season. The solution is likely a platoon of sorts. Clement crushes lefties, hitting .388 with a 1.161 OPS against southpaws this season, making him a natural partner for lefty-hitting Barger at third base. The tough call for Schneider will be how often Giménez enters that playing time rotation, especially if Barger and Clement keep raking. Not a replay from a replay from yesterday. Addison Barger is HOT 🔥 — Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 1, 2025 There is the chance to get all three in the field, though, with Daulton Varsho hitting the injured list Sunday with a left hamstring strain. Lukes will likely slide into center field against right-handed pitchers, and Springer could move to DH, leaving room for Barger to start in right. The open infield spots then belong to Giménez and Clement. Losing Varsho isn't ideal, as he led the team with eight homers, but the injury might simplify Schneider's lineup dilemma, for now. Advertisement For all the talk of finding homers in the Blue Jays' lineup, a bigger issue for the 2025 team has been the ones they've allowed. Toronto has let up the third-most home runs in baseball before Sunday's contest (81), behind just the Baltimore Orioles and the Athletics. Toronto's five most-used pitchers this year have all allowed more than 1.1 home runs per nine innings. There is an element of chance, as the Blue Jays' 13.8 percent home runs-per-fly-ball rate is 5 percent above league average. But the Jays have also allowed MLB's seventh-highest hard-hit rate, suggesting it might be more than just rotten luck. Most teams let up the majority of dingers on fastballs, but the Blue Jays have allowed nearly half on offspeed and breaking stuff. The team is focused on better fastball usage to set up those other pitches — keeping hitters off the secondary scent. It also comes down to execution, Schneider said, and not 'taking any pitches off.' 'Sometimes it could be a 0-0 breaking ball you're trying to get into the zone,' Schneider said. 'You got to put it where you want it, and then you got to put your fastball where you want it.' Blue Jays pitchers have allowed the most homers off secondary pitches when ahead in the count. Whether it's setting up those deliveries earlier or executing out pitches late, those are situations when Toronto's pitchers should have an edge, not a homer. (Photo of José Ureña and Alejandro Kirk: John E. Sokolowski / Imagn Images)
Associated Press
4 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
Athletics aim to break 10-game road skid, play the Blue Jays
Athletics (23-36, fifth in the AL West) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (30-28, third in the AL East) Toronto; Sunday, 1:37 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Athletics: JP Sears (4-5, 5.18 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 43 strikeouts); Blue Jays: Kevin Gausman (5-4, 3.68 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 61 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Blue Jays -193, Athletics +161; over/under is 8 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Athletics hit the road against the Toronto Blue Jays looking to stop a 10-game road losing streak. Toronto has a 30-28 record overall and a 19-12 record in home games. The Blue Jays have the fourth-ranked team batting average in the AL at .252. The Athletics have a 23-36 record overall and a 14-17 record in road games. The Athletics have hit 74 total home runs to rank seventh in MLB play. Sunday's game is the fourth time these teams match up this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Alejandro Kirk leads the Blue Jays with a .296 batting average, and has four doubles, three home runs, 13 walks and 22 RBIs. Ernie Clement is 13 for 39 with two home runs and six RBIs over the past 10 games. Tyler Soderstrom has 11 doubles, 12 home runs and 35 RBIs for the Athletics. Nick Kurtz is 7 for 31 with four home runs over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Blue Jays: 6-4, .265 batting average, 3.58 ERA, outscored opponents by two runs Athletics: 1-9, .265 batting average, 8.38 ERA, outscored by 42 runs INJURIES: Blue Jays: Daulton Varsho: day-to-day (hamstring), Anthony Santander: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Andres Gimenez: 10-Day IL (quadricep), Tyler Heineman: 7-Day IL (concussion), Yimi Garcia: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Max Scherzer: 60-Day IL (thumb), Erik Swanson: 60-Day IL (hand), Ryan Burr: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Nick Sandlin: 15-Day IL (back), Alek Manoah: 60-Day IL (elbow), Angel Bastardo: 60-Day IL (elbow) Athletics: Nick Kurtz: 10-Day IL (hip), Zack Gelof: 60-Day IL (hand), Gio Urshela: 10-Day IL (hamstring), J.T. Ginn: 15-Day IL (quadricep), T.J. McFarland: 15-Day IL (groin), Jose Leclerc: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Brady Basso: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Ken Waldichuk: 60-Day IL (elbow), Luis Medina: 60-Day IL (elbow) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Athletics aim to break 10-game road skid, play the Blue Jays
Athletics (23-36, fifth in the AL West) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (30-28, third in the AL East) Toronto; Sunday, 1:37 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Athletics: JP Sears (4-5, 5.18 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 43 strikeouts); Blue Jays: Kevin Gausman (5-4, 3.68 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 61 strikeouts) Advertisement BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Blue Jays -193, Athletics +161; over/under is 8 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Athletics hit the road against the Toronto Blue Jays looking to stop a 10-game road losing streak. Toronto has a 30-28 record overall and a 19-12 record in home games. The Blue Jays have the fourth-ranked team batting average in the AL at .252. The Athletics have a 23-36 record overall and a 14-17 record in road games. The Athletics have hit 74 total home runs to rank seventh in MLB play. Sunday's game is the fourth time these teams match up this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Alejandro Kirk leads the Blue Jays with a .296 batting average, and has four doubles, three home runs, 13 walks and 22 RBIs. Ernie Clement is 13 for 39 with two home runs and six RBIs over the past 10 games. Advertisement Tyler Soderstrom has 11 doubles, 12 home runs and 35 RBIs for the Athletics. Nick Kurtz is 7 for 31 with four home runs over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Blue Jays: 6-4, .265 batting average, 3.58 ERA, outscored opponents by two runs Athletics: 1-9, .265 batting average, 8.38 ERA, outscored by 42 runs INJURIES: Blue Jays: Daulton Varsho: day-to-day (hamstring), Anthony Santander: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Andres Gimenez: 10-Day IL (quadricep), Tyler Heineman: 7-Day IL (concussion), Yimi Garcia: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Max Scherzer: 60-Day IL (thumb), Erik Swanson: 60-Day IL (hand), Ryan Burr: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Nick Sandlin: 15-Day IL (back), Alek Manoah: 60-Day IL (elbow), Angel Bastardo: 60-Day IL (elbow) Advertisement Athletics: Nick Kurtz: 10-Day IL (hip), Zack Gelof: 60-Day IL (hand), Gio Urshela: 10-Day IL (hamstring), J.T. Ginn: 15-Day IL (quadricep), T.J. McFarland: 15-Day IL (groin), Jose Leclerc: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Brady Basso: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Ken Waldichuk: 60-Day IL (elbow), Luis Medina: 60-Day IL (elbow) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Daulton Varsho's booming bat rescues sleepy Blue Jays offence again in narrow win over Rangers
At a power-packed 5-foot-8 is Daulton Varsho strong enough to carry the Blue Jays offence? In these desperate times for the Toronto offence, some days it sure feels like it. One of those days was Monday in Texas, when the Jays were in desperate need of flashing some form of attack to support the brilliance of starter Kevin Gausman. Varsho, the best offensive story for the Jays so far in this uneven season, was the man again, leading the Jays to a narrow 2-1 win over the Rangers in Arlington, Tex. In fact, it was pretty much a solo effort offensively from the bat of Varsho, who belted his team-leading eighth home run of the season off Rangers ace Jacob deGrom in the first inning — a rare early run for the offensively challenged Jays. The all-world centre fielder then added a big double in his next at-bat in the third leading, setting up the Jays second (and final) run of the game on a sacrifice fly from Alejandro Kirk. With Gausman stellar for a second consecutive start, it would be all the Jays would need in a big exhale of a win in the first of three in the Texas leg of their six-game road trip. There wasn't much memorable about the U.S. Memorial Day win, but snapping a three-game losing streak had to feel significant to manager John Schneider's team, which improved to 26-27 and can at least exhale. After being humiliated with an embarrassing offensive output in Tampa on the weekend — in which they were outscored 19-2 by the Rays in that miserable three-game sweep — the Jays needed to bounce back in a bad way. Facing a struggling Rangers team — losers of six of their previous seven — proved to be the answer as the sleepy Jays offence remained mostly in hibernation mode facing the stout test of Rangers starter Jacob deGrom. They'll take the win, of course, but leaving two runners on in the fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth innings allowed the Rangers to remain in the game and further accentuated their struggles at the plate. For Varsho then, home run No. 8 of the season was massive. It not only gave him the team the early lead, but it continued his torrid power pace since returning after missing the first month and change of the season. Lined into the right-field corner, it was a rare first-inning score for a Jays team that had scored just 16 in the opening frame of the first 52 games of the season. Varsho made it a three-hit afternoon with a leadoff bunt single in the ninth. The task doesn't get much easier for the Jays on Tuesday when righty Nathan Eovaldi and his skimpy 1.60 ERA takes the mound for the Rangers, who face Toronto righty Bowden Francis, who with a 2-6 record and 5.54 ERA has struggled much of the season. In going seven shutout innings, Gausman was brilliant for a second consecutive start, allowing five hits over a stellar eight innings of work. Gausman's splitter was money for a second consecutive start, stymieing Rangers hitters with its nasty downward break all game long. He was in the zone throughout, dealing 72 strikes from his 96 innings. Gausman, who has not walked a batter since May 3 pitched eight complete for the second time this season. Another source of relief came from ace reliever — closer Jeff Hoffman, who had struggled lately. Hoffman served up a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his 11th save of the season. Though the Jays could only manage two runs off of deGrom, they were able to put together a number of decent at-bats in a rare day where the veteran righty wasn't blowing batters away. Consider that in the betting world, the over/under on strikeouts by the Rangers starter was 6.5 for the game and he didn't manage one against the Jays, a career first for the veteran in 229 big league starts. Though deGrom didn't give up much, the Jays chased him from the game after 5.1 innings in which he allowed five hits and a pair of walks. The biggest damage came off of Varsho's bat after he left a hanging slider over the plate that the Jays No. 3 hitter feasted on. For perspective, deGrom had allowed just one run in 19 innings over his three previous starts. Blue Jays farm team in Buffalo feeling absence of Canadian fans Reeling Blue Jays one more pitching injury away from potential disaster
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jacob deGrom fails to record a strikeout for first time in MLB career
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jacob deGrom had a start like no other he's ever had in the major leagues. The two-time Cy Young Award winner didn't strike out a batter for the first time in his career. 'I actually didn't know that. I heard it when I walked inside, but they were aggressive early,' deGrom said after going 5 1/3 innings for the Texas Rangers in his 229th career game, a 2-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday. It was the first loss in the past seven starts for the 36-year-old deGrom (4-2), who has made 11 starts overall this season after missing most of the last two years following his second Tommy John surgery. Daulton Varsho hit a solo homer in the first inning, and the only other run deGrom allowed came on a sacrifice fly. He gave up five hits and walked two before manager Bruce Bochy pulled him in the sixth after 81 pitches. 'They were putting a lot of balls in play early. So I was like, oh man, I might be able to go deep in this game … let's see how deep I can go in this and try to keep them off the board,' deGrom said. 'Fighting myself, started yanking the ball, walked a couple guys, just wasn't very efficient.' Meanwhile, Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman threw 72 of his 96 pitches for strikes — with first-pitch strikes to 26 of the 29 batters he faced for a career-high 89.7 per cent. His first 14 pitches were strikes, and he needed only 12 of those to get through the first two innings. Gausman (5-4) struck out six in eight innings, with all his punchouts coming after Wyatt Langford's one-out homer in the fourth. Two of the strikeouts came when the right-hander retired three consecutive batters after Texas opened the fifth with back-to-back bloop singles. 'We got some good jam shots early in the game,' Gausman said. 'Being able to pound those guys so early in the game in, it opened up for them chasing later in the game.' As for pulling deGrom in a 2-1 game, Bochy said he wanted to lighten the load on a pitcher who threw 103 pitches over seven innings against the New York Yankees last Wednesday and at least 90 pitches in each of his two starts before that. 'He's been working pretty hard,' Bochy said. 'It's what we thought this game would be, a tight ball game, two really, really good pitchers going out there. They came out on the good end. … Jacob was good, their guy was really good.' DeGrom has 1,728 career strikeouts, and entered Monday's game with a 30.9 per cent career strikeout rate. He had multiple strikeouts in all but one of his previous 228 starts, at Philadelphia on Sept. 16, 2020, when he had only one strikeout before exiting after two innings with a right hamstring spasm. That was 10 days after he struck out 12 Phillies in a game. There are no physical issues this time, and deGrom said he hasn't even thought about his workload — 63 1/3 innings through 11 starts. He threw only 64 1/3 innings during his final season with the New York Mets in 2022, when he didn't make his first big-league start until Aug. 2 after being shut down late in spring training because of a stress reaction in his right scapula. The right-hander threw just 41 innings combined the past two seasons after signing a $185 million, five-year contract with Texas in free agency. 'I feel good. I was just fighting myself today, flying open,' deGrom said. 'It's something I've been working on almost every start. And today, it kind of took a step in the wrong direction. So I wasn't able to really locate down and pitch off that with my slider.' ___ AP MLB: Stephen Hawkins, The Associated Press
