Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Not a lock to start Game 3
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Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Tuesday that while Bassitt is probably the leading candidate to start a potential Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series, he's not locked in, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Kevin Gausman will take the hill for Game 1 on Tuesday, while Jose Berrios gets the ball for Wednesday's Game 2. While Bassitt represents the logical choice to start Game 3, Schneider didn't rule out using the righty in relief in the first two games or perhaps taking a different approach to Game 3. Bassitt comes into the playoffs riding high, having struck out 12 over 7.2 scoreless frames in his final regular season start.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Tosses gem against Yankees
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Bassitt (16-8) earned the win Thursday, allowing five hits and one walk over 7.2 scoreless innings in a 6-0 win over the Yankees. He struck out 12.
Bassitt closed out the 2023 regular season on a high note, and the 34-year-old tied his season high in strikeouts while lasting at least seven frames for the fourth time in six starts. Over that stretch (42.2 innings), Bassitt owns a 4-1 record with a 2.11 ERA and a 38:8 K:BB.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Cruises to 15th win
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Bassitt (15-8) earned the win Friday, allowing two runs on six hits and no walks over 6.2 innings against the Rays. He struck out eight.
Bassitt tied his career high in wins, equaling his total with the Mets last year. The 34-year-old fully turned his season around after stumbling to a 5.18 ERA in April, and Bassitt sports a 3.74 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 174:58 K:BB over 192.1 innings this year. He is tentatively scheduled to make his last start of the regular season at home against the Yankees.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Allows two runs in no-decision
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Bassitt did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks over seven innings against Boston. He struck out five.
Bassitt got off to a strong start, retiring the first 11 batters he faced, but the Blue Jays failed to back him with any run support. The only two runs against him came via the long ball off the bat of Rafael Devers in the top of the sixth after the right-hander issued a walk to Wilyer Abreu to open the frame. Bassitt has now gone at least seven innings in three of his last four starts, posting an 18:7 K:BB over that stretch. However, he's also issued three walks in each of his last two outings.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Falls to Texas
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Bassitt (14-8) took the loss Monday, allowing five runs on nine hits and three walks over 5.1 innings against the Rangers. He struck out three.
Bassitt had gone eight innings in each of his last two starts, allowing just one run in that span. He'd struggle Monday against the Rangers, however, allowing five runs on nine hits, the most he's surrendered in a start since June 13. Overall, the 34-year-old Bassitt sports a 3.83 ERA with a 1.21 WHIP and 161:55 K:BB across 30 starts (178.2 innings) this season. He'll look to bounce back in his next outing, currently lined up for this weekend against the Red Sox.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Strong versus former team
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Bassitt (14-7) allowed a run on seven hits and struck out seven over eight innings to earn the win Tuesday over the Athletics.
Bassitt and Ken Waldichuk engaged in a pitchers' duel for six innings before Toronto's bats found success against Oakland's bullpen. This was Bassitt's second eight-inning start in a row after he blanked the Nationals his last time out. The right-hander is now at a 3.69 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 158:52 K:BB through 173.1 innings over 29 starts this year. He'll look to carry some momentum into a more challenging home start versus the Rangers next week.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Blanks Washington in win
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Bassitt (13-7) earned the win Wednesday, allowing three hits and a walk over eight scoreless innings against Washington. He struck out three.
It was a rebound performance from Bassitt after he was tagged for four runs over 5.2 innings in a loss to Cleveland in his prior start. The 34-year-old right-hander had been somewhat inconsistent recently, pitching to a 5.09 ERA in his previous three starts coming into Wednesday (17.2 innings). Overall, Bassitt sports a 3.81 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP and 151:52 K:BB across 28 starts (165.1 innings) this season. He's currently in line for a road matchup with the A's in his next start.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Hit hard in loss
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Bassitt (12-7) took the loss Friday, giving up four runs on seven hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out five.
The veteran righty gave up a lot of hard contact -- five of the seven hits off Bassitt went for extra bases, including homers by Bo Naylor and Ramon Laureano. It's the first time Bassitt's served up multiple homers in an outing since June 13, but he's been taken deep at least once in six straight starts, posting a 4.29 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 36:14 K:BB through 35.2 innings over that stretch. He'll try to keep the ball in the park in his next trip to the mound, which is likely to come at home next week against the Nationals.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Efficient in win
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Bassitt (12-6) earned the win Saturday, allowing three runs on three hits and one walk over six innings in a 4-3 victory over the Reds. He struck out six.
Bassitt threw 56 of his 79 pitches for strikes and kept Cincinnati guessing for the majority of his outing. The 34-year-old retired the first nine batters of the game, including a string of five consecutive strikeouts, before giving up a solo homer to TJ Friedl, followed by a walk and an Elly De La Cruz triple that turned into a Little League home run due to a throwing error. Bassitt went on to complete six frames to earn his 16th quality start and 12th win this season. In seven starts since the All-Star break, the veteran righty owns a 4-1 record with a 3.21 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 41:13 K:BB across 42 innings. He tentatively lines up to face the Guardians at home next week.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Fans six in no-decision
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Bassitt did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks over six innings against the Cubs. He struck out six.
Bassitt got off to a solid start, striking out four of the first seven batters he faced before surrendering a leadoff double to Nico Hoerner in the top of the fourth. The right-hander then proceeded to give up a walk, a single and a three-run homer in the next three at-bats, putting Toronto in a 4-1 hole. Bassitt has now allowed a home run and at least two walks in each of his last four starts, though he was able to make it through six frames in three of those outings. He's also recorded six or more strikeouts in four straight.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Completes seven innings in win
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Bassitt (11-6) earned the win Sunday, allowing one run on seven hits and three walks over seven innings against the Red Sox. He struck out six.
With a solo home run by Triston Casas being the only damage the Red Sox could muster, Bassitt was able to strand the nine other baserunners allowed in his seven innings. The Blue Jays bats did the rest, providing plenty of offense to help Bassitt earn his 11th win of the season. Bassitt had a 5.63 ERA on the road prior to this outing, so perhaps this is a good sign moving forward. His home ERA is a sterling 2.56 and that's where he's projected to make his next start during next weekend's series with the Cubs.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Yields four runs in loss
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Bassitt (10-6) allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings Monday, striking out seven and taking a loss against the Orioles.
Bassitt gave up two runs in the first inning and two more in the third before settling in and tossing three scoreless frames. He was tagged with more than three runs for the first time since June 23 after registering a strong 2.73 ERA in six starts between then and Monday. On the year, Bassitt is sporting a 4.00 ERA and a 125:43 K:BB through 132.2 innings. He's currently expected to start in Boston this weekend.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Walks four in no-decision
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Bassitt allowed two runs on four hits and four walks while striking out six over five innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Tuesday.
Bassitt hadn't walked multiple batters in any of his first four outings in July, though his six strikeouts were his most in a start this month. The right-hander left the game in line for the win, but the Blue Jays' bullpen couldn't maintain the lead. Bassitt hasn't allowed more than three runs in any of his last six appearances, and he's at a 3.91 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 118:41 K:BB through 126.2 innings this season. He's projected for a tough home start versus the Orioles next week.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Hurls six shutout innings
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Bassitt (10-5) earned the win Thursday, allowing four hits and one walk over six scoreless innings against the Padres. He struck out five.
Bassitt retired 10 of the first 12 batters he faced and never really found himself in trouble outside of the sixth inning, when he walked Juan Soto to open the frame before giving up a single to Xander Bogaerts. However, the right-hander was quickly able to pitch his way out of the jam en route to his 10th win of the season. Bassitt has now won his last three decisions (spanning five starts), allowing two earned runs or fewer in each of those wins.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Earns win in bumped-up start
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Bassitt (9-5) earned the win Saturday, allowing two runs on seven hits over six innings against the Diamondbacks. He struck out five.
Bassitt was able to pitch his way out of jams for most of the afternoon while filling in for Kevin Gausman (left side discomfort) on short notice, with the exception of the fourth inning, when he allowed four consecutive hits with two outs, which led to two runs coming across for Arizona. Those would be the only two runs he'd allow in the contest, as the right-hander went on to secure his ninth win of the season. The 6-foot-5 veteran has won his last two decisions (spanning four starts) despite allowing at least six hits in each of his last three starts and currently holds a 14:1 K:BB in July. Bassitt has also gone at least six innings in three of his last four outings.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Making unexpected start
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Bassitt will start Saturday against Arizona after Kevin Gausman was scratched with left side discomfort, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
Bassitt had followed Gausman in the rotation prior to the break and had been set to start Sunday, but he'll be needed one day ahead of schedule due to Gausman's day-to-day injury. While Bassitt will be starting one day earlier than planned, he'll be pitching on extra rest due to the All-Star break, having last pitched Sunday against Detroit.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Only lasts four innings
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Bassitt allowed three runs on nine hits and did not walk a batter while striking out four across four innings against the Tigers on Sunday. He did not factor into the decision.
Sunday's outing could have gotten a lot worse for Bassitt. He allowed a three base hits in the second inning and a solo home run in the third, leading to two runs for the Tigers. He then gave up another run on three straight singles to open up the fifth before being replaced by Trevor Richards, who was able to strand two runners after coming in with nobody out. It was a disappointing way for the 34-year-old to head into the All-Star break after posting consecutive quality starts. He's struggled to keep the ball in the park and has now given up 18 home runs in 109.2 innings this season after allowing 19 in 181.2 innings last year. Bassitt had not held an ERA above four in any season during which he's made at double digit starts but currently owns a 4.19 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 102:36 K:BB.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Logs quality start
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Bassitt allowed three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out five over six innings in a no-decision versus the White Sox on Tuesday.
Bassitt unraveled in the sixth inning, allowing a three-run home run to Luis Robert that temporarily cost Toronto the lead. It was a second straight quality start for Bassitt, who had an uneven June with a 4.59 ERA over six starts (33.1 innings). The right-hander is at a 4.09 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 98:36 K:BB through 105.2 innings over 18 starts this season. He's tentatively projected for one more start in the first half, which would come over the weekend in Detroit.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Hit hard in Baltimore
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Bassitt (7-5) took the loss Tuesday, allowing eight runs on 11 hits and a walk over three innings against Baltimore. He struck out five.
All of the damage against Bassitt came via the home-run ball -- a pair of two-run shots before Gunnar Henderson blasted a grand slam in the third inning. It was a tough night for the 34-year-old Bassitt, who allowed just two runs in 15.2 innings over his previous two outings. His ERA is now up to 4.02 to go with a 1.13 WHIP and 75:2 K:BB through 14 starts (85 innings) this season. Bassitt is currently lined up for a tough road matchup against the Rangers in his next outing.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Eight strong innings in win
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Bassitt (7-4) earned the win Wednesday, allowing two runs on four hits over eight innings against the Astros. He struck out five and didn't issue a walk.
Bassitt completed a season-high eight innings and didn't issue a walk for a second straight game, posting 14 strikeouts during the stretch. Aside from two horrible outings, the right-hander has been sharp during his first season with the Blue Jays, recording a 1.69 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 65:24 K:BB across his other 11 starts (74.2 innings). Even when you include his bad nights, his overall numbers (3.29 ERA and 1.01 WHIP) are still very respectable. Bassitt will look to stay sharp during his next start, which is tentatively scheduled for the opener of a three-game set in Baltimore.
