Stock Up: Kevin Gausman
Talk about stepping up when your team needs you to.
One night after Alek Manoah failed to get out of the first inning after allowing six runs against the Astros and getting just one out, manager John Schneider needed his bullpen to get the final 26 outs in an 11-4 loss. Tuesday, Toronto announced that Manoah was being sent to their Florida complex in an effort to figure his struggles out and return to the ace he was in 2022 and finished third in the Cy Young voting.
Needing length Tuesday night from Kevin Gausman, the Blue Jays got that and then some in a much-needed 5-1 victory over a hot Houston team. The right-hander went seven innings, scattering four hits and allowing one run, a Mauricio Dubon leadoff home run. He was overpowering finishing with 13 strikeouts and increasing his season total to 113 in his first 13 starts, which is the most in franchise history. He also leads the AL in strikeouts.
Most strikeouts through first 13 starts of a #BlueJays season:
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 7, 2023
1) @KevinGausman - 113 (2023)
2) Ray - 97 (2021)
3) Burnett - 96 (2007) pic.twitter.com/y9Qiqi6UpQ
This season, Gausman is 5-3 with a 2.63 ERA and has allowed just 18 earned runs. In Manoah’s absence, the Blue Jays are going to need the rest of the rotation to step up and carry the load. Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt, and Yusel Kikuchi will need to help out Gausman until Manoah can figure things out.
Toronto is hanging around in the American League East Division and a Wild Card spot and their offense will show up on a nightly basis, but now they need their pitching to as well. Gausman did in his first start without Manoah and the rest need to follow.