Bassitt (5-4) took the loss Saturday, allowing seven runs on nine hits and two walks over four innings against the Twins. He struck out five.
Bassitt was tagged for the second straight start -- he's allowed six or more runs in each appearance after failing to allow a run in his previous four starts. He had a nightmare fourth inning Saturday, allowing a leadoff single to Alex Kirilloff and then giving up back-to-back homers to Ariel Castro and Matt Wallner before being pulled. Though Bassitt appears to be going through a rough patch, fantasy managers should maintain faith considering he was one of MLB's top pitchers for a month-and-a-half stretch, boasting a 1.71 ERA and 8.2 K/9 over 52.2 innings from April 7 to May 17.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Scoreless streak snapped
Rotowire
Bassitt (5-3) allowed six runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk over 6.1 innings Monday, striking out four and taking a loss against the Rays.
Bassitt entered Monday riding a 27-inning scoreless streak, but he lost that quickly when the Rays plated three runs in the second inning. He gave up three home runs in the rough outing, including a solo shot to Luke Raley that knocked him out of the game, after giving up just two long balls over his previous eight starts. Bassitt still owns a strong 3.03 ERA with a 52:24 K:BB through 62.1 innings. His next start is projected to be in Minnesota this weekend.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Extends scoreless streak
Rotowire
Bassitt didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 2-0 extra-inning win over the Yankees, scattering three hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings. He struck out seven.
The right-hander dazzled once again, as Bassitt didn't allow a runner to get past second base as he extended his scoreless streak to 27 innings -- he hasn't let a runner cross the plate since the first inning of an April 30 outing against the Mariners. Bassitt tossed 66 of 97 pitches for strikes while delivering his seventh quality start of the season, and he'll take a 3.05 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 48:23 K:BB through 56 innings into his next trip to the mound, which is likely to come early next week in Tampa Bay.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Spins second career shutout
Rotowire
Bassitt (5-2) picked up the win in Friday's 3-0 victory over Atlanta, allowing two hits, two walks and two hit-by-pitches over nine shutout innings. He struck out eight.
The veteran right-hander rose to the occasion in a matchup with Atlanta ace Spencer Strider, retiring the first 13 batters he faced before Eddie Rosario doubled in the fifth inning -- only for the outfielder to get thrown out trying to steal third, as the visitors couldn't get a runner past second base all night. Bassitt's shutout was the second of his career and the first by any Toronto pitcher since Mark Buehrle in 2015. Bassitt has won four straight decisions and will take a 3.49 ERA and 41:22 K:BB through 49 innings into his next outing, likely to come at home next week against the Yankees.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Blanks Bucs for fourth win
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Bassitt (4-2) picked up the win in Friday's 4-0 victory over the Pirates, allowing four hits and four walks over seven scoreless innings. He struck out five.
The veteran right-hander's control continues to waver a bit, as Bassitt has issued at least three free passes in five of his last six starts, but at least Friday they didn't come back to haunt him. After a disastrous Toronto debut that saw the Cardinals take him deep four times, he has a 2.45 ERA, 1.06 WHIP 33:20 K:BB over his last 36.2 innings, serving up only two homers during that stretch. Bassitt will look to keep rolling in his next outing, likely to come next weekend at home against Atlanta.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Seven strikeouts in no-decision
Rotowire
Bassitt did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing four runs on two hits and four walks over five innings in a 10-8 loss against the Mariners. He struck out seven.
After back-to-back strikeouts to start the game, Bassitt walked two and hit a batter before surrendering a grand slam to Taylor Trammell. The right-hander was able to settle down after getting through the first and was in line for the win after four straight scoreless frames. Sunday's performance marked just the second time Bassitt failed to get through six innings and snapped a run of four straight outings with two or fewer earned runs. Bassitt's next start is tentatively scheduled versus the Pirates, who are tied for fourth in MLB in runs per game (5.5).
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Ready to go for next start
Rotowire
Bassitt (back) is listed as the Blue Jays' probable starting pitcher for Sunday's game versus the Mariners.
The Blue Jays never seemed to have much concern that Bassitt would miss a turn through the rotation after he experienced right lower-back tightness in his most recent start Monday against the White Sox, and his inclusion on the team's weekend pitching schedule confirms that he's feeling fine following his between-starts bullpen session. Through his first five starts of 2023, Bassitt owns a 3-2 record, 4.82 ERA and 1.25 WHIP across 28 innings.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Nursing back issue
Rotowire
Bassitt left Monday's game against the White Sox due to right lower back tightness, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.
Bassitt appears to have avoided a major injury, though the team will undoubtedly monitor the right-hander closely over the next few days to determine if he can make his next start. The 34-year-old noted after the game that he feels fine and he won't even miss a bullpen session, per Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Exits with injury
Rotowire
Bassitt left Monday's start against the White Sox after suffering an undisclosed injury, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports. He allowed two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out four over 6.1 innings before exiting.
Bassitt bounced a pitch to the second batter of the top of the seventh inning, and he immediately motioned for the team trainer to come out of the dugout. The team has yet to reveal the nature of the injury, so he'll be considered day-to-day until further notice.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Tosses six scoreless innings in win
Rotowire
Bassitt (2-2) earned the win Tuesday over the Astros, allowing three hits and one walk over 6.1 scoreless innings. He struck out five.
Bassitt has shown remarkable improvement after a rough season debut, recording his third consecutive quality start. The 34-year-old did not give up a hit until the fourth inning and proceeded to blank the Astros until he exited the game in the sixth inning. Bassitt has allowed only two earned runs while striking out at least five batters in each of his last three starts. He will bring a 5.40 ERA and 1.34 WHIP into his next start, scheduled for the upcoming series against the White Sox.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Pitches well but takes loss
Rotowire
Bassitt (1-2) took the loss against Detroit on Thursday, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out seven batters over six innings.
Bassitt mostly tamed the Tigers' lineup, though three of the four hits against him were doubles. He nonetheless managed to limit Detroit to just two runs, but that wasn't good enough to prevent him from taking his second loss of the season. The right-hander has notched two straight quality starts, during which he has allowed only four earned runs over 12 frames. However, his season ERA still stands at 7.63 due to a season-opening nine-run blowup against St. Louis. Bassitt's two most recent outings are probably a better reflection of what fantasy managers can expect from him going forward, as he held his ERA below 4.00 in all but one of his eight campaigns coming into 2023.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Goes six in victory over Angels
Rotowire
Bassitt (1-1) earned the win Friday, allowing three runs on two hits and five walks over six innings against the Angels. He struck out five while walking five.
Bassitt had control issues, but he was able to work around those free passes thanks in large part to those five strikeouts. It's a much better outing than the one he had in his debut with the Blue Jays in which he was charged for nine runs over 3.1 innings. Bassitt will look to build on this effort next week, and he's scheduled for a friendly matchup against the Tigers.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Struggles in season debut
Rotowire
Bassitt (0-1) took the loss Sunday, allowing nine runs on 10 hits and zero walks over 3.1 innings against the Cardinals. He did not strike out any batters.
Bassitt worked on his positioning on the rubber this spring, but his adjustments didn't pay off during his Blue Jays debut Sunday. The right-hander has been relatively effective with the Athletics and Mets over the last several seasons, but he posted a 5.60 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 17.2 innings over five appearances (four starts) during spring training this year. He projects to make his next start on the road against the Angels on Friday and will attempt to right the ship following a stretch of rough outings.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Continues to expand arsenal
Rotowire
Bassitt has tinkered with his positioning on the rubber this spring in order to offer hitters different angles on his already deep repertoire, Eno Sarris of The Athletic reports.
"Technically I have eight," Bassitt said last week when counting up his pitches. "I have two different changeups. To lefties, it's more of a split-change, and to righties, I have a true change." By moving around on the rubber, the veteran right-hander can give hitters more things to think about. "We're learning right now that if I slide more to the third base side it improves my slider, because I have more plate to work with," he said. "From the third base side, I can throw it straight and let it break, like how Max Scherzer does it - he's hard third base side and crossfires sliders down and away." Bassitt's secret strength since becoming a full-time starter in 2019 has been his ability to lessen the third time through the order penalty thanks to having so many pitches he trusts, and after recording a career-high 19 quality starts last season with the Mets, the 34-year-old might just top that number for the Blue Jays in 2023.
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Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Heads to Toronto
Rotowire
The Blue Jays signed Bassitt to a three-year, $63 million contract Monday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The righty will be a valuable addition to the middle of Toronto's already-strong starting rotation. Bassitt had a 3.42 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 167:49 K:BB in 181.2 innings with the Mets in 2022, numbers which fully merit the roughly $21 million AAV on this new contract. He joins a remarkably tough division in the AL East, but the NL East was no slouch, either, so it shouldn't change his 2023 outlook too drastically.
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Chris Bassitt: Declines qualifying offer
Rotowire
Bassitt will decline the $19.65 million qualifying offer that was extended by the Mets on Thursday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
The veteran right-hander recently declined his portion of the $19 million mutual option for 2023, so it's hardly a surprise he also won't accept the qualifying offer. Bassitt will look for a mult-year deal in free agency after he finished last season with a 3.42 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 167:49 K:BB across 181.2 innings. The qualifying offer could affect his market price, since whichever team signs him will now need to give up a draft pick as compensation.
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Chris Bassitt: Passing on $19M option
Rotowire
Bassitt informed the Mets on Sunday that he will decline his $19 million mutual option for 2023, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
The Mets would have been happy to welcome Bassitt back at that $19 million salary figure, but the 33-year-old right-hander shouldn't have much trouble securing a multi-year deal at a higher annual average value following a strong season in New York. In his 30 starts with the Mets spanning 181.2 innings, Bassitt delivered a 3.42 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 167:49 K:BB.
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Mets' Chris Bassitt: Rough close to regular season
Rotowire
Bassitt (15-9) took the loss during Sunday's 5-3 defeat to Atlanta, allowing four runs on three hits and three walks with two strikeouts in 2.2 innings.
Bassitt surrendered a Dansby Swanson solo shot in the first inning and navigated a clean second before encountering trouble in the third, loading the bases with two out then permitting a walk and single to prompt his removal. The short outing was the 33-year-old's second in his last four turns, and he's compiled a middling 4.86 ERA in 20.1 innings during the stretch. He concludes the campaign with a 3.42 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with 167 strikeouts in a career-high 181.2 innings across 30 starts.
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Mets' Chris Bassitt: Stymies former club
Rotowire
Bassitt (15-8) earned the win during Friday's 9-2 victory over Oakland, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk with two strikeouts in eight innings.
After putting two runners on in the first inning, Bassitt faced the minimum through the next five frames until permitting single runs in the seventh and eighth once the game was well in hand. The 33-year-old recorded only two strikeouts for the second time in three starts, though he's now won eight of his last 10 turns -- pitching to a 2.25 ERA across 64 innings during the stretch. Bassitt's 15 wins ranks sixth in MLB and he'll look to add to that total next weekend in Atlanta.
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Mets' Chris Bassitt: Mauled by Cubs on Monday
Rotowire
Bassitt (13-8) allowed five runs on five hits and two walks while striking out two batters over 3.2 innings to take the loss against the Cubs on Monday.
Bassitt got off to a strong start by retiring Chicago in order in the first inning, but things went south for him from there. Rafael Ortega tagged the right-hander for a solo homer in the second frame, and Zach McKinstry belted a two-run shot in the third to make the score 3-0. Bassitt then gave up a pair of runs on two singles and a walk in the fourth before getting pulled with two outs in the inning. The veteran hurler came into the contest having not allowed a homer over his past eight starts, and this was the first time he's allowed more than one long ball in a game since June 25. In addition, Bassitt's streak of outings without a loss came to an end at eight. He'll try to bounce back with what looks to be a favorable matchup against the Pirates this weekend.
