Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Mostly cruises through six innings
Rotowire
Francis (2-2) earned the win Friday against the Mariners after allowing one run on five hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out five.
Other than a Rowdy Tellez solo home run in the second inning, the Mariners didn't have much of an answer for Francis on Friday. The 28-year-old Francis was a popular 2025 breakout candidate in some fantasy circles before the season, as he boasted a 1.80 ERA, 0.60 WHIP and 58:8 K:BB over his final 65 innings of 2024, and the right-hander is off to a fine start this year with a 3.13 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 20:8 K:BB through 23 innings. Francis has given up five homers over four starts, so he'll be looking to keep the ball in the park in next week's scheduled outing in Houston against an underperforming Astros lineup.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Fades after dominant start
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Francis (1-2) took the loss against the Orioles on Saturday, allowing five runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five across 5.2 innings.
Francis was excellent out of the gates, retiring the first 13 batters faced. However, things turned on their head in the fifth inning when Heston Kjerstad broke up the shutout effort with a two-run home run to center field. Francis came back out for the sixth frame, but he proceeded to be tagged for three more runs (two of which came on a Cedric Mullins double) before being replaced by Yariel Rodriguez. It was a disappointing finish for Francis in what looked to be a quality start, and through three starts he's registered a 4.76 ERA and 1.12 WHIP across 17 innings. He'll look to bounce back in his next start, which is tentatively slated for next weekend at home against the Mariners.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Game postponed Friday
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Francis will not make his scheduled start Friday against the Orioles, as the game has been postponed due to rain.
The game will not be made up this weekend -- instead it will be made up as part of a split doubleheader July 29. Francis seems unlikely to be skipped, however, given how well he has pitched thus far. The right-hander has put up a 3.18 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 10:5 K:BB in 11.1 innings spanning two starts this season.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Solid again despite loss
Rotowire
Francis (1-1) took the loss Sunday versus the Mets, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out six.
Francis worked around six singles over his 90 pitches, out of which he generated 10 whiffs. The New York lineup was unable to square up the Toronto right-hander, as the pair of runs they were plated in the third inning came on a Pete Alonso single and Brandon Nimmo sacrifice fly. Francis now sports a 3.18 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with a 10:5 K:BB over his first 11.1 innings. The 28-year-old lines up to make his next start at Baltimore next weekend.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Takes no-hit bid into sixth inning
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Francis (1-0) picked up the win after allowing two runs on two hits and three walks in six innings Monday against Washington. He struck out four.
Although Francis gave up just two hits, both were home runs. In fact, the right-hander had tossed five no-hit innings before CJ Abrams and James Wood went back-to-back for a couple of solo shots in the sixth frame. Francis is set to function as a full-time member of the rotation in 2025 and how has a 1.50 ERA over his last nine starts dating back to last year, with his next showing tentatively set for this weekend on the road against the Mets.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Gets stretched out Thursday
Rotowire
Francis gave up one run on three hits and two walks over 5.1 innings in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays. He struck out four.
Facing a mix of big-league regulars, bench players and minor leaguers, Francis cruised through five innings before serving up a solo shot to Jonathan Aranda. The right-hander built up to 83 pitches (56 strikes) as he gets ready for Opening Day and tries to prove his big finish to 2024 was no fluke -- Francis posted a 1.53 ERA, 0.53 WHIP and 56:7 K:BB over 59 innings after rejoining the Blue Jays' rotation in early August last season. Keeping the ball in the park has been an issue for Francis this spring, however. While he does have a 16:8 K:BB through 15.2 Grapefruit League innings, he's also been tagged for five homers.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Shelled in first spring start
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Francis pitched 2.2 innings in a Grapefruit League contest against the Phillies on Saturday, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out four batters.
Francis made two previous appearances this spring, but this was his first start after the initial scheduled one was rained out. Spring training has not been kind to Francis through 6.2 innings of work, as he sports an ugly 12.15 ERA. He's allowed 11 hits, including three home runs, and five walks while striking out seven. Francis gave up a ton of hard contact versus Philadelphia, including a third-inning homer to Alec Bohm. Francis is currently slots in at the back end of Toronto's starting rotation.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Start rained out Monday
Rotowire
Francis, whose scheduled start Monday against the Tigers was rained out, will follow Max Scherzer in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The Jays will still get Francis the same amount of work, he'll just be pitching a day later and coming in after Scherzer. Francis would seem to be locked in as Toronto's fifth starter in 2025 following a surprise 2024 season in which he logged a 2.92 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 73 strikeouts in 77 innings over 13 starts after moving from the bullpen to the rotation.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Logs seventh straight quality start
Rotowire
Francis (8-5) took the loss against the Rangers on Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk over six innings. He struck out six.
Francis allowed the leadoff man to reach in each of the first two innings but didn't surrender a run in the contest until the bottom of the sixth when Adolis Garcia took him deep for a two-run homer. Those would be the only runs allowed on the night for the right-hander, who's now given up at least one long ball in three consecutive outings. It marked Francis' seventh straight quality start, though he's now taken losses in two of his last three trips to the mound after previously winning four in a row. Despite the two losses, he still carries a strong 2.70 ERA through three September outings and has posted six strikeouts in two of his last three starts.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Another quality start in loss
Rotowire
Francis (8-4) took the loss Wednesday against the Phillies, allowing three runs on six hits over six innings. He struck out six.
While Francis ultimately took his first loss since Aug. 4, the right-hander turned in another strong effort against the Phillies. Francis allowed a solo home run to Kyle Schwarber in the first inning and a two-run shot to Kody Clemens in the second before holding Philadelphia scoreless over his final four frames. The 28-year-old Francis had allowed just four runs over his previous five starts (34 innings) while posting a stellar 0.38 WHIP in that span. Overall, his ERA sits at 3.72 on the year with a 0.99 WHIP and 81:19 K:BB across 84.2 innings this year. Francis is currently slated to face the Mets at home in his next outing.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Flirts with no-hitter in win
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Francis (7-3) earned the win against the Angels on Saturday, allowing one run on one hit and three walks with 12 strikeouts over eight innings.
Francis carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning before Taylor Ward ended his outing with a solo home run. Francis threw a career-high 117 pitches, including a ridiculous 84 strikes, and registered double-digit punchouts for the first time ever. The 28-year-old has now completed at least seven innings in three consecutive outings while yielding just five total hits and two earned runs in that span. On the year, he owns a 4.02 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 70:19 K:BB across 71.2 innings and will try to keep the good times rolling against the Red Sox next week.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Stellar again in win
Rotowire
Francis (6-3) allowed three hits and struck out seven without walking a batter over seven shutout innings to earn the win over the Cubs on Sunday.
Joey Loperfido's second-inning home run was all the support Francis needed in this outing. Over his last three outings, Francis has allowed just three runs while posting a 22:1 K:BB across 19 innings. It's relatively newfound success for the 28-year-old, as he did little of note in the first half of the campaign. Francis is at a 4.38 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 58:16 K:BB across 63.2 innings over 21 appearances (seven starts) this season. He's projected for a favorable home start versus the Angels in his next appearance.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Slated to start Wednesday
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Francis is listed as the Blue Jays' scheduled starting pitcher for Wednesday's home game against the Orioles, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Though trade-deadline pickup Ryan Yarbrough could eventually get a look in the Blue Jays rotation, he'll begin his time with Toronto as a reliever, which paves the way for Francis to stick around as the club's No. 5 starter. Francis was called up from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday and proceeded to start in the second game of the Blue Jays' twin bill in Baltimore. He fell just shy of a quality start with three earned runs allowed over 5.2 innings, and he'll head into the rematch with the Orioles with a 5.68 ERA and 1.44 WHIP across 44.1 frames at the big-league level this season.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Grabs win in Game 2 of twin bill
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Francis (4-2) earned the win in the second game of Monday's doubleheader versus the Orioles, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk while striking out two batters over 5.2 innings.
Francis was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo earlier Monday in order to serve as Toronto's starter in the second game of the twin bill. The right-hander gave up three runs on two homers over his first two innings but managed to settle down after that, pitching into the sixth frame and falling one out shy of a quality start. Francis had come out of the bullpen for 13 of his previous 16 big-league outings this season, though he started in four of his six appearances in Triple-A and dominated with a 0.93 ERA, 0.58 WHIP and 24:3 K:BB over 19.1 frames. With Yusei Kikuchi traded to Houston on Monday, Francis figures to stick in the rotation, and he's tentatively slated to face the Yankees in New York this weekend.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Likely to start during doubleheader
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Francis is likely to be called up from Triple-A Buffalo to start one game of Monday's doubleheader versus the Orioles, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Yariel Rodriguez is tentatively lined up to pitch the other game Monday. Francis has tossed nine scoreless innings with a 13:1 K:BB in two starts since being optioned to Buffalo on July 14 and would be available on four days' rest Monday. Francis has been less effective during his time in the majors this season with a 5.82 ERA covering three starts and 13 relief outings.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Nabs win as bulk reliever
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Francis (3-2) picked up the win Saturday, allowing four hits over four scoreless relief innings in a 5-0 victory over the Guardians. He struck out two without walking a batter.
The right-hander was the fourth Toronto pitcher into the game, but he handled the bulk-relief role with aplomb, firing 44 of 68 pitches for strikes. Francis has tossed eight scoreless innings over his last two appearances, but with Yariel Rodriguez (back) close to coming off the 15-day injured list, Francis likely won't be in line for a full-time appointment to the rotation. Since a tough beginning to the season as a starter, Francis has posted a 3.06 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 12:4 K:BB through 17.2 innings over his last six outings sandwiched around an IL stint of his own due to forearm tendinitis.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Likely to pitch Saturday
Rotowire
Francis is a candidate to start or serve in a bulk relief role Saturday against the Guardians, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The Blue Jays are declining to name a starter at this point, but Francis is likely to be their primary pitcher, whether it's as a traditional starter or a bulk reliever. Francis went four scoreless innings in a start his last time out but holds a 7.36 ERA over seven appearances (three starts) this season.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Starting Sunday
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Francis will start Sunday's game against the Athletics, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Francis will make his first start since being activated from the 15-day IL on Tuesday. The 28-year-old surrendered four runs and tossed 57 pitches in long relief Tuesday and has yielded 12 runs over 8.1 innings during his only two starts this season. However, he'll have the luxury of facing an Athletics lineup that is scoring just 3.6 runs per game in 2024.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Sharp in latest rehab outing
Rotowire
Francis (forearm) struck out five over 3.2 innings in a rehab outing with Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday. He gave up one unearned run on one hit and one walk.
Francis made what was likely the fourth and final appearance of his rehab assignment and should be ready to return from the 15-day injured list this weekend. Shortly before he was shelved with right forearm extensor tendinitis in late April, Francis had been working out of the bullpen as a tandem starter with Yariel Rodriguez (back), but with Rodriguez joining Francis on the IL soon thereafter, Alek Manoah got a chance to reclaim the No. 5 spot in the rotation. Manoah exited his latest start Wednesday with right elbow discomfort, and if he ends up requiring an IL stint of his own, Francis could re-emerge as a rotation option in his return to the Blue Jays.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: One more rehab appearance
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Francis (forearm) will make what's expected to be his final rehab appearance with Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Francis has pitched well in his first three rehab outings, yielding three runs (two earned) with a 6:1 K:BB over 6.2 frames. He should be slated for a long-relief job once he's activated.
