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

The Blue Jays pitchers have been more up and down than the hitters. Some have been good, some, very much, haven’t. As a group, they have a 4.10 ERA in the 13 games.

Hot

Hyun Jin Ryu: 3 starts, 2-0, 1.93 ERA. In 18.2 innings, batters hit .232/.264/.319 with 1 home run, 3 walks, and 20 strikeouts.

Only one baserunner has tried to steal with him on the mound, and he was caught. He has been terrific. And he’s been allowed to throw over 100 pitches in 2 of the 3 games. The other one, we won by 9 runs, so there was no need to keep him out there.

Jordan Romano: 6 games, 0-0, 2 saves, 1 hold. In 6 innings, batters hit .100/.143/.150 with 1 walk and 10 strikeouts.

He’s been very consistent. He really has only had one bad outing this season. I’m hoping that continues.

Ross Stripling: 2 starts, 1 ‘bulk guy’ game, 1-1, 4.02. In 15.2 innings, batters hit .211/.262/.509 with 4 home runs, 3 walks, and 13 strikeouts.

A very mild up arrow. Ross had a poor start and then two very good outings. In the first of the three games, he went 3.2 innings, allowed 6 earned. In the other two games, he threw 12 innings and allowed 1 earned. I hope the changes he’s made stick and continue to work. The line he had saying that ‘when you have a 7.20 ERA, you are more willing to listen to ideas to change your delivery.’

Alek Manoah: 1 start, 1-0, 0.00 ERA. In 6 innings, batters hit .100/.182/.100 with 2 walks and 7 strikeouts.

A terrific start.

Cold

Tim Mayza: 3 games, 11.57 ERA. in 2.1 innings, batters hit .300/.364/.700 with 1 walk and 4 strikeouts.

On May 3rd, he had a 0 ERA. Since then, he’s been in 7 games and had a 20.25 ERA. I don’t know what’s going on, but I wouldn’t want to be bringing him into a close game. It feels like something must be going on.

Trent Thornton: 4 games, 1 opener, 0-0, 0.00 ERA. Batters hit .273/.333/.500 with 1 home runs, 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts.

No ‘earned runs,’ but 6 unearned runs. Trent gave up 5 unearned runs in his ‘opener’ appearance.

Tyler Chatwood: 6 games, 0-2, 1 blown save, 2 holds. In 5.2 innings, batters hit .167/.464/.167 with 10 walks and 3 strikeouts.

The guy was terrific until his last three games. He only had 4 walks in 16 appearances. And then, all of a sudden, he couldn't find the strike zone. I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t know if he does. It almost seems like he had the yips like Steve Sax had.

Rafael Dolis: 4 games, 0-1, blown saves, hold. In 4.1 innings, batters hit .263/.364/.421 with 1 home run, 3 walks, and 5 strikeouts.

He had the one lousy outing after coming back from the IL, and Charlie seemed to lose faith in him. Only his second blown save in his time with the Jays, so I didn’t think it was fair that he appeared to lose his job closer. Even the best have the odd blown save.

In Between

Steven Matz: 3 starts, 1-0, 4.08 ERA. In 17.2 innings, batters hit .282/.311/.366 with 1 home run, 2 walks, and 18 strikeouts.

He had one abysmal start, one very good start, and one that was good for 5 innings, and then things fell apart in the sixth inning. I like the strikeout to walk rate, but 10 of his 18 strikeouts came in the one start. On the season, he’s only had one game where he didn’t complete 5 innings.

Robbie Ray: 2 starts, 0-1, 3.86 ERA. In 11.2 innings, batters hit .222/.250/.511 with 3 home runs, 2 walks, and 12 strikeouts.

He had a good start, 7 innings, 1 earned, and 1 bad start, 4.2 innings, 4 earned. 3 home runs in 11 innings are more than you’d like to see, but then he pitched against the Yankees and Rays. The 4.2 innings he threw against the Yankees in game 2 of a double-header was his shortest start of the season.

Also Pitched

Anthony Kay: 1 start, 0-0, 4.50 ERA. Batters hit .267/.421/.533 with 1 home run, 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts.

And then he got sent out to Buffalo, but, on the way there, they discovered he had a blister, and they put him on the MLB IL, so he gets major league pay.

Joel Payamps: Pitched in just 2 games, 0-1. 13.50 ERA. in 2.0 innings, batters hit .250/.500/.250 with 4 walks and 2 strikeouts.

He had a pretty amazing outing, pitched 2 extra innings, with the runner starting one second, and he didn’t allow that runner to score in either inning. But then we couldn't score either. The other outing didn't go well, 2 hits, 1 walk, and a Santiago Espinal error, 4 runs scored, 3 earned, and he didn’t get an out. And he hasn’t pitched since. I’d be happier if we could get a guy back out there soon after a bad outing.

Anthony Castro: Pitched in 3 games, 0-1, 9.00 ERA. In 2 innings, batters hit .444/.500/.556 with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts.

He hasn’t looked as good as he did earlier in the season.

A.J. Cole: Pitched in 3 games, 1 blown save, 2.70 ERA. In 3.1 innings, batters hit .308/.308/.615 with 1 home run, 0 walks, and 3 strikeouts.

He only faced 13 batters in the two weeks, I don’t know if Charlie doesn’t have any faith in him or what, but he hasn’t been used much. Maybe we have too many guys in the bullpen.

Jeremy Beasley: 2 games, 0-1, 12.00. In 4.2 innings, batters hit .182/.308/.727 with 2 home runs, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts.

He allowed 2 hits, and both of them were home runs. One of the home runs came in the extra-inning game after we intentionally walked a player to load the bases. I’ll admit, I hate that move. They did it the inning before with Payamps, and it worked, but it puts a lot of pressure on the pitcher to throw strikes. Especially with pitchers who have a poor grasp of the strike zone. It is putting the pitcher at a disadvantage. He was sent down to Buffalo, or put on the taxi squad but has been back as the 27th man for the second game of the two double-headers we’ve had.

On the IL

Tommy Milone: He was moved to the 60-day IL, so we won’t be seeing him until July.

Ryan Borucki: His 10 days are up today, but he hasn’t been throwing yet, so it will be a few more days.

David Phelps: Out for the season

Patrick Murphy: Started a rehab assignment in Dunedin. He has had 3 appearances, allowed 6 hits, 1 walk, and 5 strikeouts. I don't think he’ll be back soon. But since he is throwing, maybe in the second half of June? We could use him.

Julian Merryweather: He’s out with an oblique issue. He has been throwing, but he’s on the 60-day IL, so he’s out until Mid-June at least. I’d expect he’ll have a rehab assignment before we see him with the Jays. It would be great to have him back in the bullpen.

Travis Bergen: Shoulder impingement. He shouldn’t be out too long, though sometimes I think the Jays say that about everyone. Pitched in 3 games in these two weeks. They didn’t go well.