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Blue Jays 2024 Player Review: Kevin Gausman started rough but finished strong in 2024
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) tosses his gum at the end of the eighth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
Photo credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Nick Prasad
Nov 4, 2024, 08:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 3, 2024, 20:16 EST
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The Toronto Blue Jays organization is undergoing a broad scope of concerns heading into the 2024/2025 offseason. The main points touch on offensive output, free agency, and player retention, as the club needs to find some power bats to compliment Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the bullpen needs some work. The Jays also need to look at extending their core players should they so choose, which includes Guerrero Jr. and shortstop Bo Bichette, as some major holes need to be filled if these players walk following the 2025 campaign. 
The Blue Jays starting rotation on the other hand was praised for their efforts last season, with right-hander Kevin Gausman being a main cog in the machine.  Toronto deployed a five-man rotation and when healthy, most of them pulled their weight or found a groove late in the season, including Gausman. 
Toronto’s ace arm started his tenure north of the border in 2022 and is signed throughout the 2026 season. The $110-million starter has lived up to expectations surrounding the deal, delivering over the past three seasons. In 2023, Gausman made his second All-Star appearance and found himself in the Cy Young conversation. How did he look in 2024?

Kevin Gausman’s 2024 Statistics

Wins-Losses: 14-11
ERA: 3.83
Games Started: 31
Complete Games: 2
Shutouts: 1
Innings Pitched: 181.0
Strikeouts: 162
Walks: 56 
Earned-Runs: 77
Hits: 165
WHIP: 1.221

Kevin Gausman’s Season Overview

The Blue Jays right-hander did not start off 2024 on the most promising note. His season kick-off was concerning to some and a shoulder injury during Spring Training had some concerned he would start the year on the IL. April was a rough month for the veteran pitcher, as Gausman recorded a 4.94 ERA in five starts, going 1-3. He allowed 13 earned runs on 30 hits that month. Although he did not walk a ton of hitters, he ended the month with 422 pitches thrown and only 277 strikes and was battling in many of the at-bats. The batting average against Gausman was a .303. 
May was a better showing for Gausman, as he won three of his five starts, with two no-decisions. His ERA for the month stood at 3.76 and he allowed just 11 earned runs across 26 1/3 innings. June and July were a bit of a rollercoaster for the right-hander, who saw triumph and tribulation on the mound (including a 10-K complete game), but in August and September, he was on a mission. 
Gausman’s last 15 games saw him post a 3.43 ERA with a record of 8-5 while the Jays won 10 of his 15 outings. This was important in gauging his performance, as some of the teams he faced were contending for a postseason spot late in the year. In 94 1/3 innings, he recorded 78 strikeouts and 36 walks with a WHIP of 1.18 and a 3.65 FIP to boot. 
Gausman finished the 2024 campaign with a 21.4% strikeout percentage and a 7.4% walk percentage. His pitch selections were consistent in usage and he did not utilize a change-up or sweeper in the pitch mix. His split finger remained extremely dominant, being his go-to out-pitch and held an 18.7% put-away rate. 
The right-hander threw a similar amount of innings this season compared to last year (four fewer this season). In 2023, he struck out more hitters with an AL-leading 237 strikeouts. This season he recorded 75 fewer strikeouts.
He worked hitters strategically while working in and off the zone. His depth and deception worked simultaneously to stay up in counts with the pitcher’s advantage. Gausman challenged big bats and trusted his arsenal usage to escape dangerous situations.
Overall, Gausman’s performance was up to standard in 2024 although dipped a bit when compared to his stellar 2023 campaign. He will continue to play a crucial role in the effectiveness and reliability of the Blue Jays starting rotation. If Toronto were in the postseason, he’d be number one in each series. Gausman will continue to be the go-to arm for the Blue Jays in 2025. 

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