The Blue Jays looked to build momentum following a series win over the Yankees to start the season.
Unfortunately, injuries have continued to run rampant throughout the roster. Prized free-agent signing George Springer appeared to be nearing a return to the lineup. He suffered a quad strain while running the bases mid-week and will be out until at least April 15th.
A new injury concern for George Springer and the Blue Jays.https://t.co/AbPQi4vvJR
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 7, 2021
The bad news continued on Friday. It was announced that Teoscar Hernández, Ryan Borucki, and Tyler Chatwood had been added to the IL. Hernández had a COVID-19 positive close contact outside of the team. Borucki was added after experiencing side effects from his COVID-19 vaccination. Chatwood was placed on the 10-day IL with right triceps inflammation.
#BlueJays had some additional testing done today after placing Teoscar Hernandez on COVID-19 IL. Hernandez is in a mandatory seven-day quarantine under MLB protocol after having close contact to a positive case.
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) April 10, 2021
It got worse when that night’s game started. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. left in the second inning after he also had an adverse reaction to his vaccine shot.
Bright Spots
Joel Payamps, Josh Palacios, and Ty Tice were added to the roster before Friday night’s game. Although the results on the field weren’t going the Jays’ way, all three have made an early case to stay.
Payamps and Tice combined to retire 14 of the 18 batters they faced on Friday. Palacios went 0 for 3 in his debut but broke out the next night. He went 4 for 4 with a walk and four runs scored. He also recorded the first RBI of his career.
What a debut weekend for Josh Palacios!!
— New Hampshire Fisher Cats (@FisherCats) April 11, 2021
Like so many Fisher Cats over the years…just give him a shot, he’ll show you what he can do ? https://t.co/6tcEu9LBdc
Payamps was optioned to the taxi squad despite a good outing in his team debut. He can pitch multiple innings and showed good command.
I was somewhat surprised that the Jays’ selected Tice to be called up. He didn’t have a great spring and doesn’t have the best stuff among their prospects. He looked good in two innings of mop-up work, allowing just one hit and a walk.
Ty Tice posted a 3.27 ERA with 40 K in just 31.0 IP with the #Bisons in 2019. Congrats, @tyctice https://t.co/fYL7J0i0Jt pic.twitter.com/PhduAl5LQK
— Buffalo Bisons? (@BuffaloBisons) April 10, 2021
After Gurriel Jr. was added to the IL on Saturday, Santiago Espinal joined the big league club. He went 3 for 5 with an RBI and 2 runs scored. I thought he should have made the team out of Spring Training and she showed why.
Bo Doubt
For years now Bo Bichette has been seemingly destined for greatness. He got off to an amazing start when he was first called up to the bigs in 2019. He even hit two home runs off Clayton Kershaw.
Lately, Bichette has been shaky in the field. He made a crucial error in the second inning that led to four unearned runs. He was also unable to make what would’ve been a key double play in Tuesday night’s 7-4 loss to Texas.
I can not stop laughing at this gif of Bo Bichette threatening a package of water bottles pic.twitter.com/bOxPHdidTU
— Gaurav (@gvedak) April 9, 2021
Bo came back in a big way in Saturday’s 15-1 drubbing of the Angels. The son of Dante went 2 for 4 with 5 RBI and 3 runs scored.
Bichette is a confident player and that’s a big part of his success. He’ll needs to continue to work on his defence to unlock his full potential.
We’re in the 4th inning.
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 11, 2021
Bo Bichette already has FIVE RBI ? pic.twitter.com/AIhxRKwIPn
Player Of The Week
Could’ve gone a number of directions here. Randal Grichuk has been red-hot. Vladdy has been getting on base at a remarkable percentage while also mashing. Marcus Semien hit a pair of homers and Bichette, despite his troubles described above, had his moments.
Randal Grichuk continuing to evolve as a hitter early on in 2021:
— Chris Black (@DownToBlack) April 7, 2021
Balls in Play Hit to CF/RF
2018 56%
2019 57%
2020 59%
2021 83%
Base Hits to CF/RF
2018 44%
2019 53%
2020 58%
2021 88%@SiddallJoe @DShulman_ESPN @mike_petriello @thehazelmae pic.twitter.com/xmTjwTYSWQ
But Steven Matz deserves the recognition here. He started and won the only two games the Jays won this week. Sure, he got plenty of run support but he’s also looked really sharp. To all the Mets fans who were so happy to get rid of him. Matz is 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA, so thank you.
Steven Matz, K’ing the side.
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 5, 2021
K’s 6, 7 and 8. pic.twitter.com/bM0GnxtiE0
Pitching Notes
- Rafael Dolis hasn’t looked comfortable early on this season. He also appears to be shaking off a lot, especially when Alejandro Kirk is catching.
- Tanner Roark got shelled (3 IP, 3 HR, 5 ER) in his first start Tuesday night. His days as a starter could be over.
Robbie Ray’s in, Tanner Roark’s out as Blue Jays shuffle rotation https://t.co/0oZctqPrhO
— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) April 11, 2021
- Tommy Milone got into his first games of the campaign and quietly pitched well.
- Hyun-Jin Ryu gave up 7 hits but only 2 runs in his only start of the week on Wednesday. He also recorded 7 strikeouts without walking a batter. He’s deserved a better fate (0-1, 2.92 ERA)
#WeAreBlueJays Hyun Jin Ryu has a 2.92 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, .229 OPP AVG, 1 BB & 12 SO through 2 starts this season, but he has received just 3 runs of support in 12.1 innings. pic.twitter.com/QRXvM4ELbN
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) April 8, 2021
- We only got to see the electrifying Julian Merryweather once this week. He pitched two good innings in Thursday night’s home opener.
Our #BigLeagueBison squared off these last three days in Arlington.
— OBU Baseball (@OBU_Baseball) April 7, 2021
So proud of our OBU alum Julian Merryweather and @thearn14!
? @BlueJays #OnToVictory pic.twitter.com/MycWl1XvFi
- Ross Stripling was ok in his second start, (5 IP, 6H, 4ER, 5K) but hasn’t really settled in yet.
- Nate Pearson has resumed throwing off of a mound. His return is still likely at least a month or so away.
Wrap
The rain delay-turned postponement isn’t the worst thing. It’ll give everyone a day to rest up.
The vaccination-related absences of Gurriel Jr. and Borucki aren’t expected to be lengthy. No one is going to feel sorry for them. They’ll have to play better as a team to keep the ship afloat before the reinforcements arrive.
