Death (and/or Justin Verlander) Approaches! (Series Preview: Toronto Blue Jays (8-5) vs. Houston Astros (6-6))
Toronto Blue Jays win two of three games against the Red Sox in Boston
Is the offence looking more consistent? No, not really. Are Teoscar Hernández and Danny Jansen coming back from injury soon? No. Are we any closer to figuring out what the hell is wrong with Hyun Jin Ryu? Your guess is as good as mine. Have I managed to curb my anxiety whenever George Springer so much as winces! Absolutely not!
On the other hand, do the Jays have a really solid 8-5 record depite an extremely tough first couple weeks of the season? Very much so, yes! Have the Jays maintained their undefeated series streak? For the time being in the few hours before they face Justin Verlander and the utterly terrifying Houston Astros, yes! Eat shit, Boston!
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TRANSACTION NEWS
Oh boy, which Blue Jay is going down this time around? Is it another oblique strain? Or maybe another pitcher with nebulous forearm soreness? What have you got for me this time motherfuckers, come on.
Okay here goes: Anthony Kay optioned to Triple-A. Tayler Saucedo recalled.
…Oh. Well. Carry on.
BEST BIRDS
Hitter: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (2) 13 plate appearances, .375/.538/.500, 3 Weighted Runs Created, 0.06 Win Probability Added, 0.15 WPA/LI
Despite having gotten to the point where Red Sox pitchers just refused to give him anything good to hit, Vladdy still got on base at an unreal clip, a welcome sight after a weekend where Jeff Nelson compelled him to hack away at everything. Alejandro Kirk also had a terrific series, arguably better than Vladdy’s, albeit with less overall plate appearances. Matt Chapman also had a fine series overall on both sides of the ball, with several crucial defensive run-saving plays (including one in the bottom of the ninth on Thursday that prevented the tying run from scoring).
Honourable Mentions: Alejandro Kirk, Matt Chapman
Pitcher: Kevin Gausman (1) 8 innings, 28 batters faced, 7 hits, 1 earned run, 8 strikeouts, 0 walks, 0 home runs, 0.39 Win Probability Added, 0.34 WPA/LI
For the first series this season, the Toronto Blue Jays’ starting pitchers had a stretch where they could actively be considered good overall. José Berríos continued making positive progress after his awful Opening Day start, and Yusei Kikuchi flashed the potential that convinced the Jays to give him three years. Gausman was especially excellent, delivering the best pitching performance of the year thus far and threatening a complete game shutout.
I was listening to a podcast after Gausman’s first start, one that I like but will nonetheless not be named, in which one of the guests bemoaned that the Jays should’ve backed up the truck to sign Robbie Ray, a proven ace. He also said that Kevin Gausman just isn’t in the same stratosphere, and that signing him over Ray was a mistake.
Small sample size obviously but, uh, how’s that turning out?
Interesting!
Honourable Mentions: José Berríos, Yusei Kikuchi
Best Bird Standings:
Hitters:
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.- 2
Zack Collins - 1
Danny Jansen- 1
Pitchers:
Alek Manoah- 2
Kevin Gausman- 1
Jordan Romano- 1
SCHEDULE/PROBABLE PITCHERS
(Stats are from 2021-22)
Friday, April 22, (8 p.m. EST/6 p.m. MST):
Ross Stripling (4.70 ERA, 5.12 FIP, 21.3 K%, 7.3 BB%, 36.4 Groundball%)
Justin Verlander (0.69 ERA, 2.69 FIP, 31.9 K%, 6.4 BB%, 33.3 Groundball%)
Saturday, April 23, (4 p.m. EST/2 p.m. MST):
Alek Manoah (3.06 ERA, 3.79 FIP, 27.7 K%, 9.1 BB%, 39.6 Groundball%)
José Urquidy (3.88 ERA, 4.24 FIP, 20.3 K%, 4.3 BB%, 31.5 Groundball%)
Sunday, April 23, (2 p.m. EST/12 p.m. MST):
Yusei Kikuchi (4.35 ERA, 4.64 FIP, 23.9 K%, 9.5 BB%, 49.0 Groundball%)
Luis García (3.44 ERA, 3.64 FIP, 26.1 K%, 7.9 BB%, 37.7 Groundball%)
THE OPPOSITION
Pythagorean Record: 5-7, 41 Runs, 48 Runs Allowed
Last 10 games: 4-6
The American League pennant runs through the Houston Astros, and there isn’t much indication to believe that changes this season. That said, they probably would’ve hoped to get off to a slightly more encouraging start to the season. Houston opened 2022 with a 3-1 series win over the Angels, but has scuffled a bit since then, splitting two games with the Diamondbacks and dropping series to the Mariners and Angels since then. That said, it’s still very much April, and the Astros should still be considered a force to be reckoned with. Though they’ll have to be a force to be reckoned with without some key injury losses in second baseman José Altuve, starting pitcher Lance McCullers, and closer Ryan Pressly, this team will still be A Problem for the Jays, which if anything should make us happier in retrospect that they took two of three in Boston.
The big subtraction to this team was the loss of shortstop Carlos Correa to free agency, and while replacing him one-to-one was unrealistic, rookie Jeremy Peña has filled in more than admirably in the early going. While Niko Goodrum and Aledmys Díaz should both be considered big downgrades from Altuve, and while Martín Maldonado is mostly the starting catcher for the vibes at this point, I presume, there really isn’t any other spot in the lineup that could be realistically considered a weakness. Chas McCormick doesn’t exactly have name recognition except in the sense that “Chas” is a hard first name to forget, but even he’s been solid.
On the pitching side, the bullpen has been strong, and while the starting rotation still features Jake Odorizzi and José Urquidy being thoroughly underwhelming, Framber Valdez and Luis García have been dependable as ever, and Justin Verlander has been nothing short of elite in two games. The 39-year old has chosen to rehab from Tommy John surgery by bullying the Angels and Mariners, pitching to a 0.69 ERA thus far. The Jays face him today! But it’s fine! It’s not like Verlander has been the Jays’ father for more than like a decade now! It’s fine! We’re fine!
Best (Healthy) Players (2021-22 Stats):
(Stats as of April 20, 2022)
Kyle Tucker, Right Field, .279/.347/.533, 138 wRC+
Yordan Álvarez, Designated Hitter/Left Field, .274/.344/.534, 139 wRC+
Luis García, Starting Pitcher, 3.44 ERA, 3.64 FIP, 26.1 K%, 7.9 BB%, 37.7 Groundball%
Yuli Gurriel, First Base, .309/.372/.450, 128 wRC+
Justin Verlander, Starting Pitcher, 0.69 ERA, 2.69 FIP, 31.9 K%, 6.4 BB%, 33.3 Groundball%