The Toronto Blue Jays will play the final game of their four-game series against the Kansas City Royals today looking to salvage a series split after winning the first game they’ve dropped the last two to drop to 13-12. Today they will have their ace Jose Berrios on the mound, he is 4-0 with a 0.85 ERA which is the second-best in the American League and the third-best in all of baseball. Berrios will face off against Cole Ragans he is 0-2 with a 4.32 ERA. Before the game today they placed RHP Bowden Francis on the 15-Day Injured List with right forearm extensor tendinitis, with Francis out they have recalled LHP Brendon Little from Triple-A Buffalo.
Blue Jays Moves By The Numbers
RHP – Bowden Francis
Francis was acquired by the Blue Jays back on July 6, 2021, from the Milwaukee Brewers along with Trevor Richards as they traded Rowdy Tellez away. Francis made his big league debut in 2022 appearing out of the bullpen and going 0.2 innings, he didn’t allow a run on one hit; didn’t walk anyone, and recorded one strikeout. In 2023 he appeared in 20 games going 1-0 with a 3.86 FIP, a 0.82 WHIP, and 35 strikeouts in 36.1 innings. This spring he made a strong case to be the number five starter in the rotation making five appearances with four of those coming as starts going 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP, and 15 strikeouts in 18.2 innings. To start the season he made two starts and struggled leading to the Blue Jays calling up Yariel Rodriguez who would start with Francis following him out of the bullpen. In his five games this season he is 2-2 with an 8.59 ERA, a 6.02 FIP, a 1.70 WHIP, and 17 strikeouts in 14.2 innings.
LHP – Brendon Little
Little was purchased by Toronto on November 6, 2023, from the Chicago Cubs. With the Cubs in 2022 he appeared in one game and went 0.2 innings giving up three runs on two hits; he walked one and didn’t record a strikeout. He spent all of 2023 in Triple-A. This season with Triple-A Buffalo he has appeared in one game going 0-1 with a 2.89 ERA, a 1.60 WHIP, and 16 strikeouts in 9.1 innings.
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