Behind effective Kikuchi, Blue Jays show they belong with Rays atop AL East

Baseball

Published 15.04.2023

Behind effective Kikuchi, Blue Jays show they belong with Rays atop AL East

TORONTO – Twenty-four hours in the past, the baseball world was in settlement: the Rays have been a pressure. They arrived in Toronto undefeated with a 13-0 document that was unsurpassed in fashionable baseball historical past.

Since then, the Rays have performed twice, shedding every time to the Toronto Blue Jays. First, Jose Berrios put collectively his finest begin of the season. On Saturday it was Yusei Kikuchi’s flip and he impressed with an excellent higher outing on the way in which to a 5-2 win. With that, the again of the Toronto rotation shut down baseball’s hottest workforce and the Blue Jays made it clear they will maintain their very own in opposition to the Rays – even when most different groups can’t.

On one other heat afternoon at Rogers Centre, the roof was open, the stands have been full and the gamers all wore No. 42 in recognition of Jackie Robinson Day. Pitching for the third time this season, Kikuchi was at his finest.

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He attacked with a 95 m.p.h. fastball whereas protecting hitters off-balance together with his slider and change-up. He struck out 9 over six innings, permitting only one run – a Taylor Walls residence run – on 4 hits. But he threw strikes constantly, strolling only one and hanging out 4 in a row following the Walls homer. Best-case state of affairs in opposition to one in all MLB’s elite groups.

All spring, Kikuchi labored towards this type of efficiency. He pitched with extra tempo and made a degree of attacking hitters throughout the zone, however his first two begins have been blended with a strong begin in opposition to the Royals adopted by a tough outing in opposition to the Angels. Making his first residence begin of 2023, all of it got here collectively.

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Offensively, the Blue Jays’ catching duo of Alejandro Kirk and Danny Jansen led the way in which with two hits and a stroll apiece. Both began the season slowly, however Kirk has been swinging the bat higher of late, so he began at DH over Brandon Belt Saturday.

Otherwise, it was a comparatively quiet day on the plate for the Blue Jays, who chipped away on the Rays with seven hits and 6 walks on a day they didn’t join for a house run. Still, it was sufficient due to the efforts of Kikuchi and relievers Erik Swanson, Adam Cimber and Jordan Roman, who labored by means of a bases-loaded jam to safe his MLB-leading sixth save of the season.

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As for Berrios, the Blue Jays anticipate him to have the ability to make his subsequent begin regardless of taking a comebacker off his knee in Friday’s begin. Watching the right-hander work, supervisor John Schneider favored seeing him pitch with a way of confidence.

“Enough is enough, you know? He knows he’s really good,” Schneider stated. “I just love the way he went about it. I think that when you throw in with conviction, you can – this is weird to say – but I think when you throw with conviction, you could almost get away with more mistakes … Stuff was great, too. He was feeling it.”

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So was Kikuchi, and now the 10-5 Blue Jays have closed the hole between them and the 13-2 Rays. Take nothing away from Tampa Bay – they continue to be an elite workforce and will compete for a playoff bye all yr – however by profitable this collection in opposition to the Rays the Blue Jays are making it clear that they’re simply as a lot of a risk to win the AL East.

Of course, there’s extra intrigue to return Sunday with Shane McClanahan slated to pitch in opposition to Alek Manoah within the collection finale. At stake: the potential of the primary sweep of the season for the Blue Jays and the prospect to realize one other recreation on their division rivals.

“Good matchup,” stated Rays supervisor Kevin Cash. “Two really good pitchers. Looking forward to it.”

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