TORONTO – A couple years ago around this time, someone asked Charlie Montoyo who the Blue Jays’ upcoming starting pitchers were and his response revealed a lot about the state of starting pitching in the organization at that time.
“We honestly don’t know,” he said back in September of 2019. “An opener and a guy.”
Going into Tuesday’s double-header against the Angels, the Blue Jays actually had more viable big-league starters than rotation spots – a welcome and unusual set of circumstances that added a layer of intrigue to the day. With Steven Matz and Ross Stripling both slated to make final bids to remain in the rotation, a competition of sorts was set to play out at Angel Stadium.
By the end of the night, however, the decision had been made for the Blue Jays, proving once again that any apparent pitching surplus tends to resolve itself more quickly than teams would like.
Matz struggled at times in the opener, allowing four runs on six hits over 4.2 innings in a 6-3 loss, but Stripling left the second game after just two innings and 28 pitches due to an oblique strain. While the Blue Jays still managed to split the double-header with a 4-0 win thanks to some strong relief work, the loss of Stripling hurts considering how well he’s pitched over his last dozen starts.
And though the Blue Jays will continue gathering information on Stripling with further tests scheduled this week, his injury makes the immediate decision for them. It’ll now be Matz who continues starting along with Hyun-Jin Ryu, Jose Berrios, Robbie Ray and Alek Manoah.
“I don’t want to speculate,” Montoyo said when asked about a timeline for Stripling, “but he’s not going to make his next start, that’s for sure.”
Offensively, it was a quiet day for the Blue Jays, though Marcus Semien continued his productive season with a three-hit game including two doubles in the opener. Teoscar Hernandez contributed two hits and an RBI in each game while Lourdes Gurriel Jr. delivered a well-timed two-run single late in the night-cap.
But the Blue Jays were able to split this double-header thanks to their pitching, rather than their bats. Once Stripling left the game, the relievers in the Blue Jays’ bullpen realized the remaining five innings would be up to them.
“Here we go, strap it on boys,” reliever Adam Cimber recalled saying. “Everybody’s all hands on deck.”
In the end, Cimber and fellow mid-season trade acquisition Trevor Richards each stepped up to pitch two scoreless innings before Jordan Romano recorded the final three outs despite loading the bases. This time, the bullpen picked up a rotation that’s been consistent of late.
“Our starters have been great,” Cimber said afterwards. “We’re anxious to get in there whenever we can and it’s been a fun ride.”
“Our relievers did an outstanding job,” Montoyo added.
Injuries aside, Matz may still have been the leader to remain in the rotation over Stripling with two days off approaching next week and no need for a sixth starter. Before the double-header, Montoyo said Stripling’s familiarity with relief pitching would factor into the club’s thinking.
“It’s going to be a tough decision which means both are pitching good, which is great,” Montoyo said. “But we’ll see. The one thing about Ross is he’s done it before and he’s comfortable there, so that could help in the move, but we’ll see.”
In theory, entering games with runners on base or warming up in short order would likely be more familiar to Stripling, who has 88 career appearances compared to Matz’s five. But with the oblique issue now impacting Stripling, the Blue Jays’ bullpen won’t get that anticipated support either.
For the short-term, it’s another challenge for Montoyo and pitching coach Pete Walker. With lots of ground to make up in the standings, the 61-51 Blue Jays don’t have much breathing room at this point in the season, so losing a capable arm like Stripling for any duration of time would be a challenge.
Yet it’s also worth reflecting back a couple of years to 2019, when the Blue Jays used Wilmer Font, Derek Law, Daniel Hudson, David Phelps, Neil Ramirez, Ryan Tepera and Buddy Boshers as openers because they lacked big-league quality starting pitchers.
By comparison, the competition playing out now is far preferable – and a reflection of how far the Blue Jays have come in a short period of time.
“It’s huge,” Montoyo said. “We have a chance to win every day. The one thing about an opener is really that means your starter’s not great. He’s good enough, but … you know what I’m saying. You have to make an adjustment. It’s a smart thing that baseball did, but if you have five or six starters you don’t need an opener and that’s what we’ve got going right now.”
The past weekend of football was all about the favourites.
The favoured teams went 13-1 straight up and 10-4 against the spread in the NFL. In college football, the three most teams bet at the BetMGM Sportsbook in terms of number of bets and money all won and covered. All three were favourites.
Trends of the Week
The three most bet college teams that won and covered on Saturday were Ohio State (-3.5) vs. Penn State, Indiana (-7.5) at Michigan State and Oregon (-14.5) at Michigan. Penn State has now lost seven straight home games as underdogs. The Nittany Lions were up 10-0 in the first quarter and were 3.5-point favourites at the time. The Buckeyes won 17-10.
In the NFL, the three most bet teams in terms of number of bets and money were the Washington Commanders (-4) at the New York Giants, the Detroit Lions (-2.5) at the Green Bay Packers and the Buffalo Bills (-6) vs. the Miami Dolphins. All three teams won, but only two of the three covered the spread as Buffalo beat Miami 30-27.
When it came to the players with the most bets to score a touchdown on Sunday, only two of the five reached the end zone — Chase Brown (-125) and Taysom Hill (+185). David Montgomery (-140), Brian Robinson Jr. (+110) and AJ Barner (+500) did not score.
Upsets of the Week
The biggest upset in the NFL was the Carolina Panthers coming from behind to beat the New Orleans Saints 23-22. New Orleans closed as a 7-point favourite and took in 76% of the bets and 79% of the money in against-the-spread betting. The Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen following the loss. They have now lost seven straight games after starting the year 2-0.
Arguably the biggest upset in college football was South Carolina beating No. 10 Texas A&M 44-20 at home. Texas A&M closed as a 2.5-point favourite and took in 59% of the bets and 58% of the money.
NEW YORK – Washington Capitals left-wing Alex Ovechkin, Carolina Hurricanes centre Martin Necas and Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby have been named the NHL’s three stars of the week.
Ovechkin had a league-leading five goals and nine points in four games.
The 39-year-old Capitals captain has 14 points in 11 games this season, and his 860 career goals are just 34 shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record.
Necas shared the league lead with nine points (three goals, six assists) in three games.
Crosby factored on seven of the Penguins’ eight total goals scoring four goals and adding three assists in three appearances. The 37-year-old Penguins captain leads his team with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 13 games this season.
Crosby and Ovechkin, longtime rivals since entering the league together in 2005-06, will meet for the 70th time in the regular season and 95th time overall when Pittsburgh visits Washington on Friday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2024.
TORONTO – Running back Brady Oliveira of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell are the finalists for the CFL’s outstanding player award.
Oliveira led the CFL in rushing this season with 1,353 yards while Mitchell was the league leader in passing yards (5,451) and touchdowns (32).
Oliveira is also the West Division finalist for the CFL’s top Canadian award, the second straight year he’s been nominated for both.
Oliveira was the CFL’s outstanding Canadian in 2023 and the runner-up to Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for outstanding player.
Defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund of the Montreal Alouettes is the East Division’s top Canadian nominee.
Voting for the awards is conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and the nine CFL head coaches.
The other award finalists include: defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette (outstanding defensive player); Saskatchewan’s Logan Ferland and Toronto’s Ryan Hunter (outstanding lineman); B.C. Lions kicker Sean Whyte and Toronto returner Janarion Grant (special teams); and Edmonton Elks linebacker Nick Anderson and Hamilton receiver Shemar Bridges (outstanding rookie).
The coach of the year finalists are Saskatchewan’s Corey Mace and Montreal’s Jason Maas.
The CFL will honour its top individual performers Nov. 14 in Vancouver.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31.
