Burn the Red Jerseys (Series Preview: Toronto Blue Jays (31-22) vs. Kansas City Royals (17-35))
Ryan Borucki traded to the Seattle Mariners
So while I don’t think I’ve mentioned it in a Jayslam article as of yet, I’ve been on record as saying I hate the Canada Day jerseys. The fact that a team named after a bird that is fairly well known for lacking in the colour red would have a jersey lacking even a a sliver of blue is asinine. We give the 2000s jerseys so much shit for being dominated by a boring white, gray, or black colour scheme, so why aren’t these more universally hated?
I’m also not a patriotic person on the best of days, so I can barely stand the red uniforms being used on the day they’re intended for, much less not even three weeks before Canada Day. All this to say, I may be biased, and I’m definitely not superstitious, but it may be time to consider burning the red jerseys in a ritualistic bonfire ritual.
The Jays averaged seven runs per game in their home series against the Minnesota Twins, tied with the previous series in the homestand against the White Sox for their best runs per game rate of the season. Unfortunately, while this series was one of the most complete offensive efforts of the season for the team thus far, they also averaged six and two-thirds runs allowed per game, their second-most of the season since the opening series against Texas.
José Berríos had his best start of the season, looking like his best self from last season in an encouraging seven innings en route to a 12-3 blowout. But Yusei Kikuchi got touched up despite a high strikeout total, leading to the win streak being snapped. Kevin Gausman got knocked out early thanks to both some potential pitch-tipping and an error from a somehow not sunglasses-clad Teoscar Hernández. Had an out been made, it would have gotten the Jays out of the top of the first with the game still scoreless, and likely would have been the difference in the rubber match of the series. The bullpen, however, may have played an equal if not greater part in the series loss, conceding 9 runs in 11 and two-thirds innings. Like Hernández’s error, Adam Cimber, Andrew Vasquez, and Jeremy Beasley not coughing up any runs (as opposed to one apiece) would have likely made enough of a difference to turn Santiago Espinal’s three-run homer in the ninth into a game-winner.
As a great man once said though, “ah well, nevertheless.” It sucks that the pitching had something of an implosion right when the offence was at its best, and if somehow this last game is the reason the Jays don’t make the postseason (it won’t be) that will suck major ass, but nothing to be done but move along. And move along the Toronto Blue Jays will for a very opportune trip to Kansas City, where the hometown Royals have been downright embarassing.
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TRANSACTIONS
A couple series previews ago, we discussed longtime Blue Jay Ryan Borucki being designated for assignment. On Saturday, he officially departed the organization in a trade with the Seattle Mariners for corner infield prospect Tyler Keenan. The struggling Seattle bullpen doesn’t have much in the way of quality lefties (with all due respect to Anthony Misiewicz and Roenis Elías), so if he’s able to right the ship, as I do hope he does, he should be able to establish himself with the Mariners going forward.
As for Keenan, he was a fourth round pick by the Mariners in 2020 out of the University of Mississippi. He debuted with the High-A Everett AquaSox in 2021 to pretty poor results, slashing .196/.304/.357, with a 79 wRC+, walking a fair bit and hitting for some power whenever he did make contact, but also striking out in more than a third of his plate appearances. He returned to Everett in 2022 as a 23-year old and has played much better, cutting his strikeouts down to a merely high rate and slashing .250/.349/.341 with a 119 wRC+ in 25 games so far this season.
He’s on the slower side, speed-wise, and isn’t highly regarded as a defender, limited to third and second base, his value going forward basically dependant on his bat. Once he moves up to Double-A and plays against competition more suited to his age, we should have a better assessment of what his true potential is at.
BEST BIRDS
Hitter: Alejandro Kirk (2)
Honourable Mentions: Cavan Biggio, Santiago Espinal, Matt Chapman, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Pitcher: José Berríos (1)
Honourable Mentions: David Phelps, Julian Merryweather
Best Bird Standings:
Hitters:
Santiago Espinal- 3
Alejandro Kirk- 2
Danny Jansen- 2
Bo Bichette- 2
George Springer- 2
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.- 2
Teoscar Hernández- 1
Lourdes Gurriel Jr.- 1
Matt Chapman- 1
Zack Collins - 1 (Optioned to Triple-A)
Pitchers:
Alek Manoah- 7
Kevin Gausman- 5
Yusei Kikuchi- 3
José Berríos- 1
Jordan Romano- 1
SCHEDULE/PROBABLE PITCHERS
Monday, June 6 (8 p.m. EST/6 p.m. MST)
Ross Stripling (4.22 ERA, 3.30 FIP, 21 K%, 5.8 BB%, 54.5 Groundball%)
Daniel Lynch (4.81 ERA, 4.44 FIP, 19.6 K%, 10.1 BB%, 37 Groundball%)
Tuesday, June 7 (8 p.m. EST/6 p.m. MST)
Alek Manoah (1.98 ERA, 3.03 FIP, 23 K%, 4 BB%, 19.0 37.1 Groundball%)
Brad Keller (4.15 ERA, 4.44 FIP, 13.1 K%, 7.1 BB%, 50 Groundball%)
Wednesday, June 8 (2 p.m. EST/12 p.m. MST)
Yusei Kikuchi (3.91 ERA, 4.57 FIP, 25.1 K%, 12.1 BB%, 44.7 Groundball%)
Brady Singer (4.15 ERA, 3.80 FIP, 24.6 K%, 3.3 BB%, 57.5 Groundball%)
THE OPPOSITION
Pythagorean Record: 18-34
Last 10 games: 3-7
No one should have been under the impression that the Kansas City Royals were going to be good this season. No aspect of Mike Matheny’s team looked ready to challenge the White Sox and Twins atop the division. What we maybe didn’t expect was for them to be “worst record in baseball” bad.
The offence is the part of this team that is the least broken, instead being merely “poor”. Andrew Benintendi is on pace for the best offensive season of his career, and the Royals have seen good contributions from the likes of Hunter Dozier and Emmanuel Rivera despite their poor defence. The injured Edward Olivares had been excellent before he strained his quad, and heralded rookie Bobby Witt Jr. has contributes some power and elite speed, but not much else. The more impressive rookie has been catcher M.J. Melendez, who has been great in his extremely short MLB career thus far. He makes up for the lack of production from longtime star backstop Salvador Pérez, who has unfortunately not looked good at all, nor has veteran first baseman Carlos Santana. Michael A. Taylor has been a league average bat to compliment his extraordinary defence, but Nicky Lopez and Whit Merrifield have both been BABIP’d to death, with Lopez’s prodigious shortstop defence surprisingly not carrying over to second base.
Pitching-wise, Brad Keller and Brady Singer have been solid, but their next pest starter has been the decidedly mediocre Daniel Lynch. Zack Greinke has been bad and is currently hurt, while Carlos Hernández, Kris Bubic, and Jon Heasley have all walked more batters than they’ve struck out. In high-leverage relief spots, Scott Barlow and Josh Staumont have been dependable, while Dylan Coleman has a solid ERA, but a worryingly high 17.7 percent walk rate. There aren’t much consistent quality contributors after them beyond long reliever and old friend Joel Payamps.
In other words, they’re good eatin’.
Best (Healthy) Players in this Series:
Andrew Benintendi, Left Field, .321/.385/.415, 134 wRC+
Bobby Witt Jr., Shortstop/Third Base, .224/.272/.432, 99 wRC+
Scott Barlow, Relief Pitcher, 1.57 ERA, 3.96 FIP, 24.4 K%, 8.9 BB%, 48.3 Groundball%
Brad Keller, Starting Pitcher, 4.15 ERA, 3.80 FIP, 24.6 K%, 3.3 BB%, 57.5 Groundball%
Brady Singer, Starting Pitcher, 4.15 ERA, 3.80 FIP, 24.6 K%, 3.3 BB%, 57.5 Groundball%