Heading back onto the road to start a four-game series in Detroit, the Toronto Blue Jays (22-26) faced a Detroit Tigers (23-26) team with a nearly identical records and offences. Detroit ranked 22nd in MLB in batting average heading into today’s matchup (.230), while Toronto was right behind them in 23rd (.229).
Both teams wouldn’t get much scoring at the beginning of the game, as the two starting pitchers were dealing on each side.
For the Blue Jays, Kevin Gausman looked like his former self, using his fastball around the zone to get strikeouts.
Gausman went five scoreless innings without allowing a hit until Javier Báez singled to reach base in the sixth. Detroit would finally cash in their first run from rookie Wenceel Perez, who singled off Gausman, tying the game at one.
Perez has been a boost for a Tigers’ team that consistently ranks in the bottom for hitting stats, as he’s slashing .298/.368/.500 during the season.
Overall, Gausman pitched six innings, allowing one earned run and striking out 10. This is the first time the RHP has collected 10 Ks since September 20th, 2023.
Meanwhile, Tigers SP Jack Flaherty was looking to continue his recent success after struggling with the Baltimore Orioles post-trade deadline last year.
Flaherty had his slider working and struck nine Jays in the game but gave up two costly home runs to Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Daulton Varsho.
Kiner-Falefa got the Blue Jays on the board in the third, hitting a solo home run to break the scoreless game. Kiner-Falefa also hit a triple, collecting two extra-base hits in a game for the first time this season.
Later in the sixth inning, Daulton Varsho knocked a ball over the right-field fence at Comerica Park for two much-needed runs as the Jays retook the lead, going up 3-1.
Flaherty went 6 1/3 innings, giving up nine hits, three earned runs, and 9K’s. Flaherty has now struck out 18 batters in the past two games.
Once Flaherty was knocked out of the game, Toronto added six more unanswered runs against Detroit’s Bullpen.
Bo Bichette gave the Jays Insurance in the eighth, hitting a single to put Toronto up 4-1. Bichette season is turning around; as over his past 15 games, the Shortstop OPS is sitting above .850.
Justin Turner followed Bichette up with his own RBI single. Toronto would get another run off a sac fly and extend their lead to 6-1.
In the ninth inning, Danny Jansen and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. each hit a homer, as Toronto hit four home runs in the game to grab a 9-1 win.
Toronto has now won four out of their last five games and is currently three games under .500 at 23-26.
It seems that bringing back the iconic home run jacket is helping a team that ranked 25th in MLB for home runs on the season (42). Toronto has now hit five home runs in the past two games, two coming from Bichette.
Tomorrow’s pitching matchup sees Blue Jays SP Alek Manoah (1-1, 3.00), who pitched seven scoreless innings in his last start, face Tigers SP Matt Manning (0-1, 4.88). Manning has surrendered three or more earned runs in each of his last four starts.
