Thursday bantering

Anytime you beat the Red Sox is good. Who would have throught that a combination of David Phelps, Jacob Waguespack, Tim Mayza, Daniel Hudson and Ken Giles Could beat Chris Sale? Certainly having Phelps open was a surprise but the plan worked.

What it does mean though is that the Jays are scrambling in the rotation again after a day of disarray.

On the plus side we saw Brandon Drury have a good game. His two run homer in the sixth inning gave him a three-hit day. Prior to yesterday, he was only batting .106/.208/.106 in 16 games over the last four weeks, with five singles and two RBIs in 53 plate appearances.

Someone who clearly hasn’t struggled is Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Back on May 24, when he was recalled from Buffalo, he had zero home runs on the season. He now has at least a hit in 10 of his last 11 games and leads the AL in home runs (15).

No player in baseball has hit more homers during that time and in the AL only Mike Trout has generated more wins above replacement.

Oh and he is also a destroyer of sliders.

Someone else with lovely hair and who is also batting well is Bo Bichette. In Buffalo’s double header yesterday he went 2-for-4, RBI in Game 1 and 1-for-4, RBI in Game 2.

Bichette is batting .395 over his past 11 games following his 3-for-8 performance on Wednesday as Buffalo and Lehigh Valley split a twin bill. His season average is up to .302 through 33 games for the Bisons, during which he has 13 extra-base hits (3 HR), 20 RBIs and 11 steals.

Full stats on all of yesterday’s prospects performances here.

In other Jays news

Pinstripe Alley says the Yankees and Jays are natural trade partners. Stroman, Smoak and Giles are the targets in the evils sights of the Sith.

Trent Thornton and Trevor Kelley of the Red Sox are rivals. But they share a special brotherhood now they are both in the Majors.

MLB bits

Some craziness tookk place in the Dominican Summer League yesterday:

That set a new Minor League record, shattering the old one of 33. Only seven MLB teams have scored 38 runs total in the past week. The box score is something else.

The 2019 Fangraphs hitter projections. Where did they go wrong?

More bad news for the Angels. Tommy La Stella fractured his tibia. He misses the ASG and at least 8 weeks.

What the heck is up with Will Myers?

Play of the Day

Is this the weirdest time out called or the gentlest HBP? You decide...