Pool Noodle Lookin' Ass (Series Preview: Cincinnati Reds (11-26) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (20-18))
The Toronto Blue Jays have won their first series since the home series against the Houston Astros that closed out May, this time taking two of three from the Seattle Mariners, thanks to some good pitching from Yusei Kikuchi and the ever-improving José Berríos, while Kevin Gausman had his worst start of the season that far. That as well as some assistance from the surprisingly vaccinated Steven Souza Jr.’s complete inability to play defence.
That said, A) two earned runs in five innings isn’t exactly horrid for a pitching line, and B) we probably win that game if the Jays’ offence could manage anything more against Marco Gonzales, who continues to inexplicably shut lineups down. Now after taking the day off to reset and hopefully take some time to hunt down the termites gnawing at the inside of every single one of their bats. And with the incredibly embarrassing Cincinnati Reds meandering into town, now would be an ideal time to pick up some runs, and not just because I’m back in Toronto this weekend, but also because the amount of shitty takes currently overflowing the online Jays sphere really should not be so easily dispersed after a series win.
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TRANSACTION NEWS
Shortly before Monday’s game, Cavan Biggio was simultaneously activated from the COVID IL and optioned to Triple-A Buffalo, where he was already on a rehab assignment. It’s a confirmation of something we already had enough information to determine: The second base job is well and truly Santiago Espinal’s, and Cavan Biggio will have to earn whatever playing time on the big league team he can get.
Even during his stronger seasons, Biggio never made incredible contact, relying on his ability to get on base via walks. And over the last couple years, that walk rate has continued to trend downwards, meaning he hasn’t actually displayed a consistent positive trait as a hitter since 2020, slashing .209/.313/.330. His 76 wRC+ ranks 281st oust of 311 hitters with at least 300 plate appearances, with Paul DeJong, Christian Vázquez and, uh, Bradley Zimmer matching that mark.
The Jays also have a bit of a glut of subpar lefty bench bats, only having one righty hitter on the bench in Vinny Capra, who would be the obvious one sent down for Biggio and can cover positions Biggio has no business playing. Namely, anywhere on the left side of the infield. Is he going to be down forever? I would doubt it, but he’ll need consistent playing time to work on whatever exactly is wrong with him, and as long as Santiago Espinal is the team leader in fWAR, that isn’t going to happen anytime soon.
BEST BIRDS
Hitter: Matt Chapman (1)
I am forever dreaming on Matt Chapman’s Statcast page.
Honourable Mentions: Bo Bichette, Alejandro Kirk
Pitcher: Yusei Kikuchi (3)
He heard you all talking shit.
Honourable Mentions: José Berríos, Adam Cimber
Best Bird Standings:
Hitters:
Santiago Espinal- 3
George Springer- 2
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.- 2
Matt Chapman- 1
Bo Bichette- 1
Alejandro Kirk- 1
Zack Collins - 1
Danny Jansen- 1
Pitchers:
Kevin Gausman- 4
Alek Manoah- 4
Yusei Kikuchi- 3
Jordan Romano- 1
SCHEDULE/PROBABLE PITCHERS
Friday, May 20, (7 p.m. EST/5 p.m. MST):
Luis Castillo (5.59 ERA, 5.58 FIP, 17.9 K%, 10.3 BB%, 28.2 HardContact%)
Hyun Jin Ryu (9.00 ERA, 5.77 FIP, 15.1 K%, 5.7 BB%, 35.8 HardContact%)
Saturday, May 21, (3 p.m. EST/1 p.m. MST):
Hunter Greene (6.21 ERA, 6.67 FIP, 28.6 K%, 13 BB%, 24.7 HardContact%)
Alek Manoah (1.71 ERA, 3.10 FIP, 23.8 K%, 5.5 BB%, 20.1 HardContact%)
Sunday, May 22, (1:30 p.m. EST/11:30 a.m. MST):
Connor Overton (1.82 ERA, 3.14 FIP, 11.2 K%, 7.9 BB%, 35.2 HardContact%)
Yusei Kikuchi (3.38 ERA, 4.54 FIP, 24.3 K%, 14.7 BB%, 27.9 HardContact%)
THE OPPOSITION
Pythagorean Record: 13-24
Last 10 games: 7-3
The Cincinnati Reds are such an interesting case study in how to kill any positive momentum for a sports franchise in only two years.
After sneaking into , and promptly getting bounced out of the expanded playoffs in 2020, the Reds were tasked with building on a core that included Jesse Winker, Eugenio Suárez, Joey Votto, Jonathan India, Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray, and Tyler Mahle to take them from dark horse to contender in a weak division after a disappointing 2021. Instead they opted out of that task entirely, beginning a baffling fire sale that sent veteran starters Gray and Wade Miley to the Twins and Cubs, respectively, Winker and Suárez to the Mariners, and saw Nick Castellanos lost to free agency. In their place, a patchwork team was assembled that has seen the likes of Brandon Drury, Tommy Pham, Mike Moustakas, and T.J. Friedl take up more big league playing time than any of them probably should. After a 3-18 April, the Reds have the worst record in baseball, and the team’s owners, Bob Castellini and his his children, have come under fire for both their chintzy bullshit and for failson Phil challenging Reds fans demanding the owners sell the team with the old “where else are you gonna go?” and subtly threatening to move the oldest team in professional baseball. It went over about as well as you would expect.
To be fair, the Reds have been more mediocre than outright terrible recently, with an 8-8 record in the month of May. Catcher Tyler Stephenson has had an excellent start to the season, and has seen overall positive contributions from even the likes of Drury, Pham, Moustakas, and Tyler Naquin, even as Votto and India have been hampered by injuries and as Friedl and Kyle Farmer have merely been atrocious. On the pitching side of things, the bullpen has been atrocious but has at least seen Jeff Hoffman, Luis Cessa, and Alexis Díaz make them most of their playing time. Luis Castillo has also been limited by injuries, but Tyler Mahle has been better than his 5+ ERA would suggest, while former Blue Jay Connor Overton has been shockingly, if only debatably sustainably, good. Hunter Greene has some ugly ERA and walk rate numbers, but he also provides some excitement for a team that sorely needs it, which is just about all that can be asked from a team that refuses to put a dynamic, competitive team on the table when they have the resources and a weak enough division to do so. Sweep this fucking team.
Best (Healthy) Players in the Series:
Tyler Stephenson, Catcher, .325/.384/.545, 158 wRC+
Connor Overton, Starting Pitcher, 1.82 ERA, 3.14 FIP, 11.2 K%, 7.9 BB%, 35.2 HardContact%
Brandon Drury (!!!), Super Utility, .245/.333/.509, 133 wRC+
Tommy Pham, Left Field, .240/.354/.376, 110 wRC+
Tyler Naquin, Right Field, .266/.316/.486, 122 wRC+