In their return to Rogers Centre, the Toronto Blue Jays secured their first series win of 2024, claiming two of three from the Seattle Mariners, finishing a couple extra feet on Ernie Clement’s ninth-inning flare away from a sweep.
Now, the Blue Jays will turn their attention to the visiting Colorado Rockies, who are 3-10 to open the season after finishing 59-103 in 2023.
In the midst of a difficult April schedule, the Rockies are likely the worst opponent Toronto will face until they head to Washington for a series against the Nationals in May.
After rough starts against the New Yankees, Kevin Gausman and Bowden Francis will look to get their 2024 seasons on track in the opening games of the weekend series against Colorado.
Here are some storylines to keep an eye on as the Blue Jays square off with the Rockies.
Probable Pitchers
Friday (7:07 p.m. ET / 4:07 p.m. PT): Toronto RHP Kevin Gausman (0-1 9.53 ERA, 9.56 FIP) vs. Colorado RHP Ryan Feltner (0-1, 3.27 ERA, 3.21 FIP), Sportsnet, Sportsnet+.
Saturday (3:07 p.m. ET / 1:07 p.m. PT): Toronto RHP Bowden Francis (0-2, 12.96 ERA, 8.37 FIP) vs. Colorado RHP Dakota Hudson (0-2, 2.38 ERA, 2.94 FIP), Sportsnet, Sportsnet+.
Sunday (1:37 p.m. ET / 10:37 a.m. PT): Toronto RHP Jose Berrios (2-0,1.45 ERA, 3.91 FIP) vs. Colorado LHP Kyle Freeland (0-2, 16.03 ERA, 7.71 FIP), Sportsnet, Sportsnet+.
Starting pitchers stepped up against Seattle
The Blue Jays’ starting rotation entered their home opener against the Mariners with the third-worst ERA (6.40) in baseball. However, Jose Berrios, Yusei Kikuchi and Chris Bassitt all brought their best stuff in their first outings at the Rogers Centre in 2024.
That trio combined to allow just two runs over 19.1 innings while striking out 23 Mariners.
For the most part, the offence also played its part in picking up the series win. Toronto hitters racked up 22 hits through the first two games, chasing a pair of pretty good starters in Luis Castillo and George Kirby early.
While Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. smacked impressive homers in the series, the Blue Jays got contributions from up and down their roster. Ten players picked up hits, and all 12 who came to the plate reached base at some point over the three games.
Free-agent additions Justin Turner and Isiah Kiner-Falefa stood out during their at-bats, picking up five hits and two doubles apiece.
Rockies looking for bright spots
Colorado makes its way north of the border after dropping two of three to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Although the Rockies were able to claim the first game of the series behind Charlie Blackmon’s two-hit night, they waisted strong starting pitching in the next two games, losing 3-2 on Tuesday and 5-3 on Wednesday.
In the series before, they played the Tampa Bay Rays tight over the three-game set, claiming a 10-7 win behind Ryan McMahon’s walk-off grand slam in their home opener.
In a season that is unlikely to result in a trip to the playoffs, Colorado will be looking for development from its young players and emerging talent that can become a part of its future core.
One of those players who has raised eyebrows early on this season is Friday night’s starter, Ryan Feltner. The 27-year-old righty has a 3.27 ERA over two starts and racked up 10 punchouts against the Rays on Saturday.
On the offensive side, shortstop Ezequiel Tovar is slashing .333/.396/.542 with a pair of home runs through his first 53 plate appearances. A 22-year-old, Tovar established himself as one of the top defensive shortstops in MLB during his rookie season in 2023, and showed enough at the plate for the Rockies to give him a seven-year, $63.5-million extension before the season began.
Rodriguez gets the call
According to reports from Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi and Francys Romero, Toronto will be calling up Cuban right-hander Yariel Rodriguez.
The Blue Jays signed Rodriguez to a five-year, $32-million contract this off-season with the ability to have him start the year in the minors.
Well, in two starts with triple-A Buffalo, Rodriguez didn’t allow a run and kept opposing lineups to just one hit and three walks while striking out 10. In his last outing, the 27-year-old’s fastball sat at 93.2 m.p.h while mixing in a slider, splitter and curveball.
Rodriguez pitched for Cuba in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, but didn’t pitch professionally last summer as he looked to make the jump to MLB from NPB. He had served as a reliever for the previous three seasons with the Chunichi Dragons.
Winless in Toronto
Since their inaugural 1993 season, the Rockies have come to Toronto just three times — 2002, 2007 and 2013 — and have never won a game north of the border.
Although it hasn’t had any success in Toronto, finding wins on the road, in general, has historically been tough for Colorado. It has an all-time record of 950-1,481 as the visiting team and has finished with a winning record on the road in only three of its 30 seasons.
So, it’s perhaps not all that surprising that the Rockies have opened the 2024 season 1-6 in their two series away from Coors Field.
Colorado Cal
Despite a generally quiet off-season in Colorado, Port Hope, Ont., native Cal Quantrill was one of the Rockies’ key additions this winter.
The 29-year-old right-hander was designated for assignment by the Cleveland Guardians after an injury-riddled 2023 limited him to just 99.2 innings. They then traded him to Colorado for minor league Cody Huff.
Unfortunately for fans, Quantrill, who owns a career 2.08 ERA in two appearances at Rogers Centre, pitched on Tuesday against the Diamondbacks and will not pitch in the series against Toronto.
His Tuesday start was his first quality start with the Rockies. He has a 7.20 ERA and 10 strikeouts through his first three starts of the season.
2023 season series
Toronto won two of three games in Colorado last September. The series marked the emergence of “The Buffalo Boys,” as Ernie Clement, Spencer Horwitz and Davis Schneider combined to go 12-for-29 with six extra-base hits and nine RBI.
Up next
After finishing their weekend series against the Rockies, the Blue Jays will welcome the Yankees to Toronto for the first time in 2024. The Blue Jays dropped a three-game set in the Bronx against AL East leaders last week.
