Who’s Hot, Who’s Cold: Blue Jays Pitchers

The Blue Jays have allowed 3.92 runs per game, which, surprisingly is much better than the league average of 4.59 and fourth-best in the AL (if I did earned run average, we’d be third-best in the AL).

Hot

Hyun Jin Ryu: 3 starts, 1-1, 1.89 ERA. In 19 innings, batters hit .211/.233/.338 with 2 home runs, 2 walks, and 19 strikeouts.

He’s just been terrific.

Steven Matz: 2 starts, 2-0, 1.46 ERA. In 12.1 innings, batters hit .167/.255/.286 with 1 home run, 3 walks, and 13 strikeouts.

I have a hard time believing he can be this good but don’t question it, just enjoy.

David Phelps: 6 games, 1 hold, 1.69 ERA. in 5.1 innings, batters hit .263/.333/.263 with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts.

He had a couple of shaky outings, but that term ‘bent but didn’t break’ covers it.

Tim Mayza: 5 games, 0.00 ERA. In 3.1 innings, batters hit .231/.286/.231 with 0 walks and 5 strikeouts.

Hard to play him on 3.1 innings. He allowed 2 of 5 inherited runs to score. Charlie has managed to use him as a LOOGY, even with the 3-batter rule.

Joel Payamps: 3 games, 0.00 ERA. In 6 innings, batters hit .190/.227/.190 with 1 walk and 4 strikeouts.

He has been up with the team and down, but when he’s been up, he’s been great. Three 2-inning outings and kept the other team off the board. Throwing strikes and getting outs, he’s been surprisingly good.

Tommy Milone: 2 games, 1.50 ERA. In 6 innings, batters hit .190/.261/.333 with 1 home run, 2 walks, and 8 strikeouts.

Just 2 outings, but he was good in both. I’m kind of surprised that he hasn’t been given a start yet.

Cold

TJ Zeuch: 3 games, 0-1, 2 starts, 5.56 ERA. In 11.1 innings, batters hit .289/.373/.622 with 4 home runs, 6 walks, and 4 strikeouts.

He’s been hurt by the team’s less than spectacular defense. He has 4 unearned runs on his ledger. He does need the team to make plays behind him. I like pitchers that get by without the huge strikeout numbers, it reminds me more of the old days, but if you don’t get strikeouts, you need defense.

Ross Stripling: 2 starts, 0-1, 7.56 ERA. In 8.1 innings, batters hit .342/.390/.632 with 2 home runs, 3 walks, and 10 strikeouts.

Now on the IL. You’d think with 10 strikeouts in 8.1 innings. He’d have better numbers.

Tanner Roark: 1 start, 1 relief, 0-1, 7.94. In 5.2 innings, batters hit .280/.308/.680, 3 home runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts.

At least after the first inning, his relief appearance was the best pitching we’ve seen from him. Sometime, likely after a relief appearance, he’ll be released when we need another arm, and they don’t want to send anyone down.

In Between

Robbie Ray: 1 start, 0-1, 3.60. In 5 innings, batters hit .188/.316/.375 with 1 home run, 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts.

Just the one start, and he seemed to tire at the end of it, which is understandable, coming off the IL. He seems to pitch on the edge. Every pitch is full out, which is the way of baseball now.

Rafael Dolis: 7 games, 1-0, 4.50 ERA. In 6 innings, batters hit .105/.320/.158 with 5 walks and 8 strikeouts.

I didn’t know where to put him. He had one bad outing where he couldn’t find the strike zone, loading the bases. Then Tim Mayza came in and allowed two of the runners to score. One bad outing in 7 isn’t all that bad. He takes so long in between pitches I tend to think he is in trouble. Some terrific pitching, but 3 straight walks in a row made it seem worse.

Ryan Borucki: 5 games, 1-1, 4.50 ERA. In 4 innings, batters hit .154/.214/.385 with 1 home run, 1 walk, and 4 strikeouts.

He had a couple of baddish outings. 2 earned, plus an unearned run, in 1.1 innings. I want Charlie to use for more than an inning at a time. Perhaps it will come.

Trent Thornton: 4 games, 3.00 ERA. In 6 innings, batters hit .190/.290/.286 with no extra-base hits, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts.

He’s been good. He gave up an earned run in each of two outings. I like him in a long-relief role (though I’d like him to get to do more than 2 innings).

Also Pitched

Anthony Kay: 1 start, 0-1, 10.80. In 3.1 innings, batters hit .375/.375/.688 with 0 walks and 3 strikeouts.

Hurt by the crappy defense. He needs the defense to make the plays.

Ty Tice: 1 game, 0.00 ERA. Batters hit .145/.333/.143 with 1 walk and no strikeouts.

Anthony Castro: 1 game, 0.00 ERA. In 2 innings, batters hit .143/.143/.143 with 1 strikeout.

He looked really good.

On the IL

Julian Merryweather: 4 games, 2 saves, 0.00 ERA. In 4 innings, batters hit .077/.143/.077, with 1 walk and 7 strikeouts.

He was amazing, and now he’s on the IL. The story of our times. All out pitcher has something go wrong. When I was young and had windup watches, sometimes, if you wound them too tight, they broke.

Jordan Romano: 4 games, 1 win, 1 hold, 1 blown save, 2.70 ERA. In 3.1 innings, batters hit .286/.412/.357 with 3 walks and 4 strikeouts (and 3 stolen bases).

Out with ulnar neuritis (sounds like a date). Hopefully, he won’t be out too long.

Tyler Chatwood: 3 games, 0.00 ERA. In 2.2 innings, batters hit .364/.417/.780.

Right tricep soreness. At least that one I understand.