<p>Bowden Francis is on some kind of heater. Since returning to the starting rotation after the Blue Jays traded Yusei Kikuchi to the Houston Astros, Francis has been, dare I say, the ace of the Toronto Blue Jays pitching staff?</p>
<p>It&#8217;s a small sample size, but with his seven innings of shutout ball against the Boston Red Sox last night, Francis just put a bow on not only one of the best single pitching months in Blue Jays history, but MLB history.</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s start with the team historicals first: for every starting pitcher with at least five starts in a given month, Francis has the fifth lowest ERA of all-time at 1.05. (Hat tip to <a href="https://stathead.com/baseball/">Stathead</a> for all the data.)</p>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 561px; height: 194px;" border="0" width="256" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; width: 139px; text-align: center;" height="19"><strong>Player</strong></td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;"><strong>Split</strong></td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;"><strong>Year</strong></td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;"><strong>ERA</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 139px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="manoaal01" data-stat="player">Alek Manoah</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">Sept/Oct</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2022</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="earned_run_avg">0.88</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 139px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="clemero02" data-stat="player">Roger Clemens</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">July</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">1997</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="earned_run_avg">0.89</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 139px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="clemero02" data-stat="player">Roger Clemens</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">August</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">1998</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="earned_run_avg">0.9</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 139px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="ryuhy01" data-stat="player">Hyun Jin Ryu</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">August</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2020</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="earned_run_avg">0.96</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 139px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="francbo01" data-stat="player">Bowden Francis</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">August</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2024</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="earned_run_avg">1.05</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>He was bested only by Alek Manoah&#8217;s unreal 0.88 ERA in September/October in 2022, a pair of Roger Clemens months, and Hyun-Jin Ryu&#8217;s 0.96 ERA in 2020, which propelled the Blue Jays to a playoff spot.</p>
<p>Next is WHIP, which Francis leads by a wide margin over his next closest competition, Clemens and Halladay. I also forgot how R.A. Dickey was solid for the Blue Jays down the stretch in 2015 before he exploded in the ALCS against the Royals.</p>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 555px; height: 260px;" border="0" width="256" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14px; width: 137.917px; text-align: center;" height="19"><strong>Player</strong></td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;"><strong>Split</strong></td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;"><strong>Year</strong></td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;"><strong>WHIP</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14px; position: sticky; width: 137.917px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="francbo01" data-stat="player">Bowden Francis</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" data-stat="split_name">August</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2024</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" align="right" data-stat="whip">0.408</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14px; position: sticky; width: 137.917px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="clemero02" data-stat="player">Roger Clemens</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" data-stat="split_name">August</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">1998</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" align="right" data-stat="whip">0.700</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14px; position: sticky; width: 137.917px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="hallaro01" data-stat="player">Roy Halladay</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" data-stat="split_name">Sept/Oct</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2003</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" align="right" data-stat="whip">0.706</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14px; position: sticky; width: 137.917px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="stiebda01" data-stat="player">Dave Stieb</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" data-stat="split_name">Sept/Oct</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">1988</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" align="right" data-stat="whip">0.738</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14px; position: sticky; width: 137.917px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="dicker.01" data-stat="player">R.A. Dickey</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" data-stat="split_name">Sept/Oct</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2015</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" align="right" data-stat="whip">0.762</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>In opponent&#8217;s batting average, Francis&#8217; August once again is the new franchise leader for Blue Jays starting pitchers in a single month. His .089 opponent batting average bested Dave Stieb&#8217;s .130 from September and October 1988.</p>
<p>The most surprising name on this list to me is Yariel Rodriguez, having the third-lowest opponent batting average in a single month from July of this year.</p>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 555px; height: 261px;" border="0" width="256" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; width: 151.552px; text-align: center;" height="19"><strong>Player</strong></td>
<td style="width: 133.365px; text-align: center;"><strong>Split</strong></td>
<td style="width: 133.365px; text-align: center;"><strong>Year</strong></td>
<td style="width: 133.385px; text-align: center;"><strong>BA</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 151.552px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="francbo01" data-stat="player">Bowden Francis</td>
<td style="width: 133.365px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">August</td>
<td style="width: 133.365px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2024</td>
<td style="width: 133.385px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="batting_avg">.089</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 151.552px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="stiebda01" data-stat="player">Dave Stieb</td>
<td style="width: 133.365px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">Sept/Oct</td>
<td style="width: 133.365px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">1988</td>
<td style="width: 133.385px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="batting_avg">.130</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 151.552px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="rodriya01" data-stat="player">Yariel Rodríguez</td>
<td style="width: 133.365px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">July</td>
<td style="width: 133.365px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2024</td>
<td style="width: 133.385px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="batting_avg">.132</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 151.552px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="estrama01" data-stat="player">Marco Estrada</td>
<td style="width: 133.365px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">May</td>
<td style="width: 133.365px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2016</td>
<td style="width: 133.385px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="batting_avg">.138</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 151.552px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="clemero02" data-stat="player">Roger Clemens</td>
<td style="width: 133.365px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">August</td>
<td style="width: 133.365px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">1998</td>
<td style="width: 133.385px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="batting_avg">.144</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>And to tie into the franchise low for opponent batting average, it&#8217;s also no surprise Francis also has the fewest hits surrendered in a single month by a Blue Jays starter. He shares that honour with Wilmer Font. Yes, remember when Font was a thing in late 2019?</p>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 552px; height: 251px;" border="0" width="256" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; width: 147.177px; text-align: center;" height="19"><strong>Player</strong></td>
<td style="width: 164.781px; text-align: center;"><strong>Split</strong></td>
<td style="width: 118.344px; text-align: center;"><strong>Year</strong></td>
<td style="width: 118.365px; text-align: center;"><strong>H</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 147.177px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="fontwi01" data-stat="player">Wilmer Font</td>
<td style="width: 164.781px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">August</td>
<td style="width: 118.344px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2019</td>
<td style="width: 118.365px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="H">10</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 147.177px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="rodriya01" data-stat="player">Yariel Rodríguez</td>
<td style="width: 164.781px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">July</td>
<td style="width: 118.344px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2024</td>
<td style="width: 118.365px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="H">10</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 147.177px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="francbo01" data-stat="player">Bowden Francis</td>
<td style="width: 164.781px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">August</td>
<td style="width: 118.344px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2024</td>
<td style="width: 118.365px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="H">10</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 147.177px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="shoemma01" data-stat="player">Matt Shoemaker</td>
<td style="width: 164.781px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">April/March</td>
<td style="width: 118.344px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2019</td>
<td style="width: 118.365px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="H">16</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 147.177px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="kikucyu01" data-stat="player">Yusei Kikuchi</td>
<td style="width: 164.781px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">May</td>
<td style="width: 118.344px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2022</td>
<td style="width: 118.365px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="H">17</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>But let&#8217;s save the best for last, just to give some context to how impressive Francis pitched in August. He set a new MLB record for the lowest single-month WHIP for a starting pitcher making at least five starts in one month.</p>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 552px; height: 263px;" border="0" width="256" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; width: 124.917px; text-align: center;" height="19"><strong>Player</strong></td>
<td style="width: 173.906px; text-align: center;"><strong>Split</strong></td>
<td style="width: 124.917px; text-align: center;"><strong>Year</strong></td>
<td style="width: 124.927px; text-align: center;"><strong>WHIP</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 124.917px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="francbo01" data-stat="player">Bowden Francis</td>
<td style="width: 173.906px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">August</td>
<td style="width: 124.917px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2024</td>
<td style="width: 124.927px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="whip">0.408</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 124.917px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="degroja01" data-stat="player">Jacob deGrom</td>
<td style="width: 173.906px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">June</td>
<td style="width: 124.917px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2021</td>
<td style="width: 124.927px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="whip">0.482</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 124.917px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="smithfr03" data-stat="player">Frank Smith</td>
<td style="width: 173.906px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">April/March</td>
<td style="width: 124.917px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">1909</td>
<td style="width: 124.927px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="whip">0.511</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 124.917px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="kershcl01" data-stat="player">Clayton Kershaw</td>
<td style="width: 173.906px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">May</td>
<td style="width: 124.917px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2016</td>
<td style="width: 124.927px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="whip">0.524</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 124.917px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="barneje01" data-stat="player">Jesse Barnes</td>
<td style="width: 173.906px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">July</td>
<td style="width: 124.917px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">1919</td>
<td style="width: 124.927px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="whip">0.535</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Among that list, two of the greatest starting pitchers of this era in Jacob deGrom and Clayton Kershaw, along with Frank Smith from 1909, who threw a league-leading 37 complete games, and Jesse Barnes from 1919, who won a National League-leading 25 games that year.</p>
<p>With the Blue Jays&#8217; season having gone sideways, at least there are things like this to look forward to; a completely unexpected turnaround by Francis from a fringe roster guy to somebody who&#8217;s looked like one of the best pitchers in baseball.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s almost impossible for Francis to follow up what he did in August, but he&#8217;s going to be given all the runway in the world in September to see if he can solidify his place in the Blue Jays&#8217; starting rotation heading into 2025.</p>


Bowden Francis is on some kind of heater. Since returning to the starting rotation after the Blue Jays traded Yusei Kikuchi to the Houston Astros, Francis has been, dare I say, the ace of the Toronto Blue Jays pitching staff?

It's a small sample size, but with his seven innings of shutout ball against the Boston Red Sox last night, Francis just put a bow on not only one of the best single pitching months in Blue Jays history, but MLB history.

Let's start with the team historicals first: for every starting pitcher with at least five starts in a given month, Francis has the fifth lowest ERA of all-time at 1.05. (Hat tip to <a href="https://stathead.com/baseball/">Stathead</a> for all the data.)
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 561px; height: 194px;" border="0" width="256" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; width: 139px; text-align: center;" height="19"><strong>Player</strong></td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;"><strong>Split</strong></td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;"><strong>Year</strong></td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;"><strong>ERA</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 139px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="manoaal01" data-stat="player">Alek Manoah</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">Sept/Oct</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2022</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="earned_run_avg">0.88</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 139px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="clemero02" data-stat="player">Roger Clemens</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">July</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">1997</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="earned_run_avg">0.89</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 139px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="clemero02" data-stat="player">Roger Clemens</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">August</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">1998</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="earned_run_avg">0.9</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 139px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="ryuhy01" data-stat="player">Hyun Jin Ryu</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">August</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2020</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="earned_run_avg">0.96</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 139px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="francbo01" data-stat="player">Bowden Francis</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">August</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2024</td>
<td style="width: 139px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="earned_run_avg">1.05</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
He was bested only by Alek Manoah's unreal 0.88 ERA in September/October in 2022, a pair of Roger Clemens months, and Hyun-Jin Ryu's 0.96 ERA in 2020, which propelled the Blue Jays to a playoff spot.

Next is WHIP, which Francis leads by a wide margin over his next closest competition, Clemens and Halladay. I also forgot how R.A. Dickey was solid for the Blue Jays down the stretch in 2015 before he exploded in the ALCS against the Royals.
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 555px; height: 260px;" border="0" width="256" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14px; width: 137.917px; text-align: center;" height="19"><strong>Player</strong></td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;"><strong>Split</strong></td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;"><strong>Year</strong></td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;"><strong>WHIP</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14px; position: sticky; width: 137.917px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="francbo01" data-stat="player">Bowden Francis</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" data-stat="split_name">August</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2024</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" align="right" data-stat="whip">0.408</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14px; position: sticky; width: 137.917px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="clemero02" data-stat="player">Roger Clemens</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" data-stat="split_name">August</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">1998</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" align="right" data-stat="whip">0.700</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14px; position: sticky; width: 137.917px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="hallaro01" data-stat="player">Roy Halladay</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" data-stat="split_name">Sept/Oct</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2003</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" align="right" data-stat="whip">0.706</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14px; position: sticky; width: 137.917px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="stiebda01" data-stat="player">Dave Stieb</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" data-stat="split_name">Sept/Oct</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">1988</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" align="right" data-stat="whip">0.738</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14px; position: sticky; width: 137.917px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="dicker.01" data-stat="player">R.A. Dickey</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" data-stat="split_name">Sept/Oct</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2015</td>
<td style="width: 137.917px; text-align: center; height: 14px;" align="right" data-stat="whip">0.762</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
In opponent's batting average, Francis' August once again is the new franchise leader for Blue Jays starting pitchers in a single month. His .089 opponent batting average bested Dave Stieb's .130 from September and October 1988.

The most surprising name on this list to me is Yariel Rodriguez, having the third-lowest opponent batting average in a single month from July of this year.
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 555px; height: 261px;" border="0" width="256" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; width: 151.552px; text-align: center;" height="19"><strong>Player</strong></td>
<td style="width: 133.365px; text-align: center;"><strong>Split</strong></td>
<td style="width: 133.365px; text-align: center;"><strong>Year</strong></td>
<td style="width: 133.385px; text-align: center;"><strong>BA</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 151.552px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="francbo01" data-stat="player">Bowden Francis</td>
<td style="width: 133.365px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">August</td>
<td style="width: 133.365px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2024</td>
<td style="width: 133.385px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="batting_avg">.089</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 151.552px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="stiebda01" data-stat="player">Dave Stieb</td>
<td style="width: 133.365px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">Sept/Oct</td>
<td style="width: 133.365px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">1988</td>
<td style="width: 133.385px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="batting_avg">.130</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 151.552px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="rodriya01" data-stat="player">Yariel Rodríguez</td>
<td style="width: 133.365px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">July</td>
<td style="width: 133.365px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2024</td>
<td style="width: 133.385px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="batting_avg">.132</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 151.552px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="estrama01" data-stat="player">Marco Estrada</td>
<td style="width: 133.365px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">May</td>
<td style="width: 133.365px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2016</td>
<td style="width: 133.385px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="batting_avg">.138</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 151.552px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="clemero02" data-stat="player">Roger Clemens</td>
<td style="width: 133.365px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">August</td>
<td style="width: 133.365px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">1998</td>
<td style="width: 133.385px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="batting_avg">.144</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
And to tie into the franchise low for opponent batting average, it's also no surprise Francis also has the fewest hits surrendered in a single month by a Blue Jays starter. He shares that honour with Wilmer Font. Yes, remember when Font was a thing in late 2019?
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 552px; height: 251px;" border="0" width="256" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; width: 147.177px; text-align: center;" height="19"><strong>Player</strong></td>
<td style="width: 164.781px; text-align: center;"><strong>Split</strong></td>
<td style="width: 118.344px; text-align: center;"><strong>Year</strong></td>
<td style="width: 118.365px; text-align: center;"><strong>H</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 147.177px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="fontwi01" data-stat="player">Wilmer Font</td>
<td style="width: 164.781px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">August</td>
<td style="width: 118.344px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2019</td>
<td style="width: 118.365px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="H">10</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 147.177px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="rodriya01" data-stat="player">Yariel Rodríguez</td>
<td style="width: 164.781px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">July</td>
<td style="width: 118.344px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2024</td>
<td style="width: 118.365px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="H">10</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 147.177px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="francbo01" data-stat="player">Bowden Francis</td>
<td style="width: 164.781px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">August</td>
<td style="width: 118.344px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2024</td>
<td style="width: 118.365px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="H">10</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 147.177px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="shoemma01" data-stat="player">Matt Shoemaker</td>
<td style="width: 164.781px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">April/March</td>
<td style="width: 118.344px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2019</td>
<td style="width: 118.365px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="H">16</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 147.177px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="kikucyu01" data-stat="player">Yusei Kikuchi</td>
<td style="width: 164.781px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">May</td>
<td style="width: 118.344px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2022</td>
<td style="width: 118.365px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="H">17</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
But let's save the best for last, just to give some context to how impressive Francis pitched in August. He set a new MLB record for the lowest single-month WHIP for a starting pitcher making at least five starts in one month.
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 552px; height: 263px;" border="0" width="256" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; width: 124.917px; text-align: center;" height="19"><strong>Player</strong></td>
<td style="width: 173.906px; text-align: center;"><strong>Split</strong></td>
<td style="width: 124.917px; text-align: center;"><strong>Year</strong></td>
<td style="width: 124.927px; text-align: center;"><strong>WHIP</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 124.917px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="francbo01" data-stat="player">Bowden Francis</td>
<td style="width: 173.906px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">August</td>
<td style="width: 124.917px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2024</td>
<td style="width: 124.927px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="whip">0.408</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 124.917px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="degroja01" data-stat="player">Jacob deGrom</td>
<td style="width: 173.906px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">June</td>
<td style="width: 124.917px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2021</td>
<td style="width: 124.927px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="whip">0.482</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 124.917px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="smithfr03" data-stat="player">Frank Smith</td>
<td style="width: 173.906px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">April/March</td>
<td style="width: 124.917px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">1909</td>
<td style="width: 124.927px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="whip">0.511</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 124.917px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="kershcl01" data-stat="player">Clayton Kershaw</td>
<td style="width: 173.906px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">May</td>
<td style="width: 124.917px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">2016</td>
<td style="width: 124.927px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="whip">0.524</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt;">
<td style="height: 14.5pt; position: sticky; width: 124.917px; text-align: center;" height="19" data-append-csv="barneje01" data-stat="player">Jesse Barnes</td>
<td style="width: 173.906px; text-align: center;" data-stat="split_name">July</td>
<td style="width: 124.917px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="year_game">1919</td>
<td style="width: 124.927px; text-align: center;" align="right" data-stat="whip">0.535</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Among that list, two of the greatest starting pitchers of this era in Jacob deGrom and Clayton Kershaw, along with Frank Smith from 1909, who threw a league-leading 37 complete games, and Jesse Barnes from 1919, who won a National League-leading 25 games that year.

With the Blue Jays' season having gone sideways, at least there are things like this to look forward to; a completely unexpected turnaround by Francis from a fringe roster guy to somebody who's looked like one of the best pitchers in baseball.

It's almost impossible for Francis to follow up what he did in August, but he's going to be given all the runway in the world in September to see if he can solidify his place in the Blue Jays' starting rotation heading into 2025.

Blue Jays pitcher Bowden Francis just had a month for the ages

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