On Sunday afternoon, the Toronto Blue Jays watched their ace starter Kevin Gausman unravel in real time. But they stood still and let it happen! Gausman legit slipped down the stairs, heading to the dugout because of their mistakes.
Gausman, the $110 million arm that they have leaned on since 2022, threw 53 pitches in a single inning. He tied the franchise record, marking the most by any MLB pitcher in an inning since 2022. It’s a mark that was previously set by Woody Williams in 1998. It wasn’t just an odd stat; it was simply a red flag, if at all anything.
However, the most jarring part is that the Blue Jays staff didn’t pull him when they should have. And Ben Nicholson-Smith didn’t shy away from calling out the Toronto Blue Jays.
“I think it was a mistake,” said Ben Nicholson-Smith. He added, “At 44 pitches, he’s got to come out because he is so important to the team.” And really, it is hard to argue with it. Gausman had already walked three straight hitters, and his command was fading; it was visible. Yet he stayed in long enough to give up a bases-clearing double to Austin Wells on his 53rd pitch of the inning.
But then the damage was done, and Kevin Gausman was ejected after protesting the calls. He tripped down the dugout stairs, and it just highlights maybe how exhausted he was. Later, John Schneider followed suit just two innings later. The Toronto Blue Jays lost both games, falling to 13-14 in April, and now, suddenly, the momentum they have isn’t there anymore.
Plus, it is unbelievable that they would take such a chance with Gausman. Because the 34-year-old isn’t just another starter. He has been a workhorse, a postseason anchor, if they want to ace the postseason. Leaving him out there on a short leash would be understandable. But letting him burn through 53 pitches, that’s a gamble—a huge one. In a season where every pitch counts, the Jays are betting to lose one they can’t afford to lose. Not when the season is going as it is.
Toronto Blue Jays’ slide deepens as Bowden Francis joins an unwanted record
The Toronto Blue Jays were beaten 10-2 by the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night, falling to 13-16 on the season. And as if that loss was not enough, Bowden Francis managed to etch his name in the history book. And no, not on a list anyone would want to go. Francis joined Kyle Gibson of the Baltimore Orioles in a rare club. According to @JayHayKid of Underdog Fantasy, this is the third time in MLB history that multiple pitchers have allowed five home runs on the same day.
The others who are on this exclusive sad list are CC Sabathia, Carlos Zambrano, Jeff D’Amico, and Dave Telgheder back in 1996. So, not exactly the kind of record the Jays thought their stars would end up making.
But Francis gave up seven earned runs on eight hits and struck out only one. His ERA is at 5.28, and it’s a far cry from the result he gave last season. He had posted a 3.30 ERA and won eight games then. For Toronto, this is their eighth loss in the last nine games. They are sitting fourth in the AL East. It’s quite alarming that the Toronto Blue Jays, who were said to have playoff dreams this season, are here. Not to mention, they recently signed Vladimir Guerrero Jr to a monstrous deal, so this just seems like a major setback.
The Jays are probably going to have a reset on Wednesday when they face Boston again. Lucas Giolito will make his first start since 2023—so a big day. Remains to see if he will be that missing spark that the Jays need.
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