Things worth mentioning…

• Alek Manoah made his third start of spring training and his first throwing to catcher Alejandro Kirk, who started behind the plate for the first time in 2023. Manoah’s start was a little bit of a mixed bag. He generated quite a few whiffs and struck out five batters but his command was enigmatic as he walked four batters. All told, Manoah’s like was three-and-one-third innings, three earned runs on two hits and four walks with five punchies.

• After Manoah left the game, the rest of Toronto’s arms completely shut the Red Sox down. Adrian Hernandez, Nate Pearson, Tim Mayza, Zach Pop, and Yosver Zulueta combined to toss five-and-one-third scoreless frames, allowing zero hits and one walk while striking out 10. The star among Toronto’s pitchers was Zulueta, as he worked around a walk and struck out the side.

• The Blue Jays scored 16 runs on 18 hits and eight walks so it isn’t easy to narrow things down to one player who was the star of the day offensively. Whit Merrifield was the leadoff hitter and he went 2-for-4, Bo Bichette went 2-for-4 with a pair of dingers, Alejandro Kirk’s debut featured a hit and two walks, Brandon Belt laced a double and walked twice, Kevin Kiermaier picked up a pair of hits, and Addison Barger drove in three runs.
• The second dinger that Bo hit was among the biggest bombs I’ve ever seen him hit…

POINTSBET IS LIVE IN ONTARIO