Joe COOKS 👨🍳 🔥 There’s his first #BlueJays blast!
Bowden Francis hurled a gem and Joey Loperfido hit his first home run for the Jays in their 1-0 win over the Cubs
Photo credit: © Matt Marton - USA Today
Aug 18, 2024, 17:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 18, 2024, 18:35 EDT
While the Toronto Blue Jays lost the series against the Chicago Cubs, they were ultimately able to avoid what would have been the third time they were swept this season.
On Sunday, the Blue Jays played the third and final game against the Cubs, defeating the National League Central team 1-0. Toronto now have a 58-66 record this season. Unless the Jays somehow go on a 38 game-winning streak to end the season, their postseason chances are all but done, and have been for quite a while.
However, that doesn’t mean that these games don’t matter, as two players had a great game on Sunday. Those two players could help the Jays back into contention in 2025.
Joey Loperfido was acquired at the trade deadline in exchange for Yusei Kikuchi, with the Blue Jays also receiving Will Wagner and Jake Bloss. Coming into Sunday’s game, Loperfido was slashing .140/.178/.186 with no home runs in 45 plate appearances, along with a 42.4 K% and a 2.2 BB%.
Well, the 25-year-old outfielder hit his first home run with the Blue Jays, on top of a multi-hit day thanks to a single in the top of the ninth. For the season, he’s slashing .216/.271/.333 with three home runs in 167 plate appearances.
Loperfido wasn’t the only player who could potentially impact the roster player who had a great day Sunday. In his first three starts with the Blue Jays this season, Bowden Francis had a rough time. After an injury and a demotion to Triple-A, he was recalled after the aforementioned Kikuchi was traded to Houston.
Francis made his fourth start since rejoining the Blue Jays as a starter in late July, and pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out seven. His season ERA now sits at 4.38, while his FIP sits at 4.65. Moreover, Francis has 22.1 K% and a 6.1 BB%.
Bowden Francis this week: 14 IP 1 ER 15 Ks 🔥🔥🔥
Looking at Francis’ body of work since joining the team on July 29, he’s pitched 25 innings, giving up seven earned runs for a 2.52 ERA. If he can continue to pitch like this for the rest of the season, the Blue Jays can focus their off-season attention on other positions to improve, such as relief pitching and a big bat.
Diving into the stats…
Loperfido wasn’t the only player with a hit, as the Blue Jays finished with eight hits on the day. Alejandro Kirk had another multi-hit day, bringing his season slash line to .241/.313/.325 with three homers in 265 plate appearances. Not necessarily great, but the hole he dug to begin the season is hard to come out of.
Speaking of holes that may be too big to dig out of, George Springer also had a two-hit performance. For the season, the 34-year-old is slashing .220/.301/.365 with a 91 wRC+. At this point, you have to hope he hits better in 2025.
Spencer Horwitz, hitting in the fifth spot, hit a single, as did catcher Brian Serven. Addison Barger struck out three twice, while Ernie Clement struck out twice.
Francis ate the majority of the innings, but the Jays used three relievers in the final two innings. Ryan Burr pitched two thirds of an inning and made a sick play to retire the second out, before Génesis Cabrera struck out a batter to leave the runner on first stranded.
With a 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth, the Jays turned to Chad Green to get the final three outs. He allowed a one-out single to Cody Bellinger, but retired the final two batters to pick up his 13th save of the season. His season ERA now sits at 1.82.
Toronto returns home on Monday and will face their second consecutive National League Central team, the Cincinnati Reds. Kevin Gausman is slated to start that game while the Reds’ starter is yet to be determined. Could we see Joey Votto get the call to big leagues to face his former team? Who knows.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.