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

Over the last two weeks, the Jays are 5-8. The pitchers have a 4.05 ERA.

Hot

Robbie Ray: 3 starts, 0-0, 1.64 ERA. In 24 innings batters hit .192/.222/.244 with 1 home run, 2 walks, and 33 strikeouts.

So, three excellent starts, 7 innings, 8 innings, and 7 innings. 5 runs allowed. 33 strikeouts. 2 walks. And yet we can’t get any wins for him. In the three games, we’ve scored 6 runs. It is a good thing that Cy Young voters don’t just look at won/loss records these days. We worried about the home runs he has allowed, but he only gave up one in three starts.

Hyun Jin Ryu: 2 starts, 1-1, 2.70 ERA. In 13.1 innings batters hit .182/.234/.318 with 1 home run, 3 walks, and 8 strikeouts.

One very good start, 7 shutout innings, one not-so-good start, 4 earned in 6.1 (though he allowed just 3 hits and 2 walks). Hot is likely the wrong term. Sequencing has been an issue.

Steven Matz: 2 starts, 1-0, 0.82 ERA. In 11 innings batters hit .195/.267/.317 with 1 home runs 3 walks and 5 strikeouts.

He’s been kind of streaky, has some very good starts, and some lesser starts. But he’s been a fine 5th starter.

Jordan Romano: 5 games, 0 ERA, 2 saves. Batters hit .222/.263/.333 with 1 walk and 8 strikeouts.

He has been terrific all season.

Connor Overton: 4 games, 0.00 ERA. In 6.2 innings batters hit .182/.250/.182 with 2 walks and 4 strikeouts.

And now he’s back in Buffalo.

Cold

Jose Berrios: 3 starts, 0-2, 8.76 ERA. In 12.1 innings batters hit .393/.453/.607 with 2 home runs, 7 walks, and 12 strikeouts.

Hopefully, this rough patch won’t last long. But it isn’t going well for him or us.

Trent Thornton: 5 games, 0-0, 3.60 ERA. In 5 innings batters hit .364/.391/.591 with 1 home run, 0 walks, and 5 strikeouts.

That’s some batting line.

Adam Cimber: 6 games, 0-1, 9.00 ERA, 1 hold. In 4 innings batters hit .421/.476/.632 with 1 home run, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts.

He’s battling through a rough patch, but his last outing was good.

Trevor Richards: 5 games, 1 loss, 1 blown save, 9.00 ERA. in 4 innings batters hit .200/.250/.600 with 2 home runs. 1 walk and 5 strikeouts.

I was going to put him in ‘also pitched’ but he gave up 2 homers in 4 innings.

Brad Hand: 6 games, 1 blown save/loss, 5.79 ERA. In 4.2 batters hit .294/.381/.647 with 2 home runs. 3 walks, and 2 strikeouts.

Getting him into blowouts is the way to go for now.

In Between

Alek Manoah: 3 starts, 1-1, 5.17 ERA. In 15.2 innings batters hit .262/.361/.377 with 2 homers, 6 walks, and 18 strikeouts

2 good starts, 1 that went really badly, but then his Grandma died right around then. His mind likely wasn’t on the game. In his two good starts he threw 114 and 108 pitches. A fair workload for a young fellow.

Also Played

Tayler Saucedo: 5 games, 0-1, 8.10 ERA. In 3.1 innings, batters hit .083/.267/.167 with 3 walks and 2 strikeouts.

How you can have an 8.10 ERA when holding batters to a .083 BA. Well, a lot of it is because of the people coming in after you.

Tim Mayza: 4 games, 2.45 ERA, 2-0, hold. In 3.2 batters hit .083/.154/.083 with 6 strikeouts.

He’s been terrific and used very well lately. He is better vs LHB (.431 OPS) but is still good against RHP (.664 OPS).

Rafael Dolis: Pitched in two games before being DFAed. He’s in Buffalo now, extending their game times. 0-0. 54.00 ERA. in 0.2 innings batters hit .833/.800/1.333 with 3 walks.

IL

Anthony Casto: Out with right ulnar nerve irritation. There is no word on when he might be back.

David Phelps, out for the season.

A.J. Cole: Oblique strain. It is possible he’ll be back, but I have doubts. He is on the 60-day IL and I don’t see the point of DFAing someone for a month of A.J. Cole.

Carl Edwards, Jr.: His 60 days are up mid-month. Again, I’m not sure I’d DFA someone for a month of Carl Edwards.

Julian Merryweather: He’s throwing. He had some soreness, but apparently, it is normal muscle soreness and he’ll continue his rehab.

Nate Pearson: He’s pitched a few times in Buffalo and has looked good. He should be up soon but as a 1 inning reliever.

Joakim Soria: Was added to the roster yesterday.

Kirby Yates: Out for the year.

Ross Stripling: Went onto the IL on the 11th of August. I haven’t seen any word on when/if he might be back.

Ryan Borucki: Is working out in Dunedin.