DETROIT -- The Blue Jays were walked off by the Tigers Friday night at Comerica Park, a 3-2 loss which zapped the momentum they hit the road with.
Spencer Torkelson’s base hit into the right-center gap won it in the ninth for the Tigers, but it was set up by a stolen base and the decision to intentionally walk Zach McKinstry, who already had a 2-0 count, to face Torkelson.
Here’s what mattered most from the loss:
1. WILD THING: Yesavage keeps rolling
These imperfect appearances from Yesavage feel just as encouraging as his dominant ones, because he’s still getting the job done without his ‘A’ game.
Yes, Yesavage walked three and uncorked three wild pitches, one of which led to the Tigers’ first run, but the Blue Jays will take six innings of two-run ball from Yesavage any day of the week. The dominant days will come, and there were still plenty of whiffs against his splitter Friday night to prove that.
Let’s compare today to late April, when Yesavage returned to the big leagues after a pair of uneven rehab outings with Triple-A Buffalo. Through four starts, he’s posted a 1.40 ERA with 21 strikeouts over 19 1/3 innings, most of his metrics mirroring his incredible debut from a year ago, too. He’s getting through these starts in different ways, as well, and should be cleared to push past 90 pitches his next time out. This isn’t just “going according to plan,” it’s been better.
2. SNAP: Vladdy’s woes continue
After Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s second at-bat of the game -- a pop fly that floated to the edge of the infield dirt -- he decided he’d seen enough of that twig. Guerrero snapped the bat over his knee walking off the field, then chucked the kindling down the dugout tunnel as he walked down the steps. Good riddance.
Once again, this was not Guerrero’s day. He opened with a strikeout that perfectly captured the diagnosis from manager John Schneider -- that he’s trying to do too much -- and ended the day 0-for-4. Guerrero even made hard contact in his final at-bat with a 105.7-mph liner to center field, but all Vladdy could do was throw his hands into the air after the ball found the center fielder’s glove.
STOCK UP: Valenzuela
This has crept up on people, but rookie catcher Brandon Valenzuela is already tied for the MLB lead in Fielding Run Value among catchers (+6), matched only by defensive ace Patrick Bailey.
He’s done this in just 26 games after being recalled for the injured Alejandro Kirk, too, a remarkable accomplishment that backs up the scouting reports about Valenzuela’s defense in the Minor Leagues. Valenzuela’s cannon arm is the headliner here, and the easiest way to measure his defensive value watching at home, but he’s also graded out very well when it comes to framing.
Blending some public numbers with some of their own internal metrics, the Blue Jays are thrilled with what Valenzuela is doing.
“In the world of information, it’s about having the borderline strike called a strike and not having it challenged,” Schneider said. “We are pretty high, as a group, at that. In fact, I know we are. It’s about dominating those 50-50 pitches in a certain way, but his throwing really comes into play, too.”