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

Over the past 12 games the Jays are 6-6. The pitchers have a 4.31 ERA.

Hot

Robbie Ray: 3 starts, 2-0, 2.45 ERA. In 18.1 innings batters hit .221/.274/.338 with 2 home runs, 5 walks, and 32 strikeouts.

32 strikeouts in 18.1 innings, that’s pretty amazing. Three excellent starts. He is going to make a lot of money in free agency. I’d like to hope that he’d sign with the Jays, since Pete Walker seems to have been a big help, but then I’m sure, at age 30, he will be looking to maximize the money he makes.

Alek Manoah: 3 starts, 0-0, 3.77 ERA. In 14.1 innings, batters hit .222/.311/.444 with 3 home runs, 6 walks, and 14 strikeouts.

He is great to watch. 2 of the 3 starts were good, one wasn’t so good. He gave up 3 home runs in that one start but hasn’t given up any in his 3 other starts this season. Our first-round pick in 2019, 11th overall. There are good parts about having bad teams, but I’m hoping we don’t get an 11th overall pick for a long time.

Jordan Romano: 3 games, 1 hold. In 3 innings, batters hit .100/.308/.100 with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts.

Hasn’t pitched much. He was day-to-day with forearm tightness for a bit there. I’m thinking he might be used carefully for a while, we really can’t afford to lose another pitcher to the IL.

Tim Mayza: 7 games, 2 holds, 0.00 ERA. In 5.1 innings, batters hit .158/.200/.158 with 1 walk and 4 strikeouts.

He didn’t give up his first earned run of the season until May 7th. Then he had a rough stretch. But he hasn’t given up an earned run in June. Part of having 1 inning outings I guess. Some will be good, some won’t.

Anthony Castro: 5 games, 1-0, 1.59 ERA. In 5.2 innings, batters hit .056/.227/.222 with 1 home run, 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts.

He only gave up 1 hit in his 5 appearances, a home run. Not bad for a waiver pickup. Has averaged 95.2 on his fastball. Might be moving up the leverage ladder.

Joel Payamps: 4 games, 2.70. In 6.2 innings, batters hit .130/.200/.217 with 2 walks and 7 strikeouts.

No really high leverage appearances, but he was pretty good each time out. He isn’t a strikeout pitcher, so folks think he is getting lucky. Baseball fans like their relievers to get strikeouts, but there are other ways to be successful. I keep being told that it is all going to come tumbling down for him, and I mean, odds are he will have some games where balls find holes, but why not enjoy the game times while they are here.

Cold

Hyun Jin Ryu: 2 starts, 0-2, 6.94 ERA. In 11.2 innings, batters hit .267/.320/.578 with 3 home runs, 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts.

One of the starts was a ‘quality start’. He allowed 3 runs in 6 innings but he wasn’t good. He has been hit pretty hard. Hopefully, tonight will be different. Everyone is allowed a couple of lesser starts a season.

Steven Matz: 2 starts, 1-1, 4.50 ERA. In 10 innings batters hit .293/.396/.537 with 2 home runs 6 walks and 11 strikeouts.

He had a good start and a bad start. Good one, 5.2 innings, 1 earned. Bad 4.1 innings, 4 earned. In all, he was hit pretty hard. He is on the Covid IL at the moment. Non-symptomatic, which is good for him. Hopefully, everyone around him will be fine too.

Trent Thornton: 4 games, 0-1, 8.44 ERA. In 5.1 innings, batters hit .286/.304/.571 with 2 home runs, 1 walk, and 7 strikeouts.

He gave up at least 1 earned run in 3 of his 4 outings.

Tyler Chatwood: 4 games, 1-0, 33.75. In 1.1, batters hit .600/.692/1.000 with 1 homer, 1 walk, and 2 strikeouts.

Yeah, it wasn’t good. One game was spectacularly bad. 5 earned without getting an out. And, of course, there was the hit batter, walk, hit batter outing. The other two were good.

Rafael Dolis: 6 games, 0-2, 1 hold, 6.75 ERA. In 4 innings, batters hit .368/.478/.474 with 4 walks and 7 strikeouts.

Last year he very rarely had a bad outing. This year, well he has. He could have been helped out by some decent defense in a couple of games.

In Between

Ross Stripling: 2 starts, 1-0, 4.22 ERA. in 10.2, batters hit .293/.356/.390 with 1 home run, 3 walks, and 10 strikeouts.

One good start, one start where a couple of runs of his scored after he left the game. You might remember the game. He gave up quite a few baserunners but managed to keep them from scoring. He’s been fine as a fifth starter for the past four starts.

On the IL

Patrick Murphy: On a rehab assignment. He has given up 6 hits and a walk in his 3.1 rehab innings with 5 strikeouts. I’d like him up soon, but, as always, the team is closer to him than I am. Maybe this week?

Travis Bergen: Left shoulder impingement. Out until near the end of the month, at best.

A.J. Cole: Now on the 60-day IL, so can’t be back until near the end of July. “Left Oblique Strain”.

Julian Merryweather: Another oblique issue. He has started a throwing program. Won’t bee seeing him until July.

Thomas Hatch: Building up his arm in the minors. In 3 starts, he’s pitched 7 innings, with 2 walks and 8 strikeouts. He threw 51 pitches his last time out. He would be due to pitch tomorrow. Might be a possibility to take Matz’ next start.

Ryan Borucki: Is starting a throwing program. Might see him by the end of the month?

Tommy Milone: On the 60-day. Out until July.

David Phelps: Out for the season.