August 19, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Carson Fulmer (41) throws a pitch against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Photo Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Bowden Francis will look to maintain the form he has shown in his last two games when he faces the visiting Los Angeles Angels on Saturday.
He could also help the Blue Jays win the four-game series. Toronto won the first two games and improved its record against the Angels to 5-0 this season.
Toronto won 5-4 on Friday thanks to back-to-back home runs by Joey Loperfido and Addison Barger to start the ninth inning against Roansy Contreras. It was the Blue Jays’ fourth walk-off victory of the season.
Francis (6-3, 4.38 ERA) has pitched seven impressive innings in two consecutive away starts and is trying to work his way into next season’s rotation plans.
He held the Angels to one run and one hit in a 4-2 win over seven innings in Anaheim on August 12. It was his first appearance against them. Mickey Moniak’s home run was the only hit Francis allowed.
In his next start, Francis held the Chicago Cubs to three hits in a 1-0 win on Sunday. In the two wins combined, he had 15 strikeouts and no walks.
Francis struggled in two starts to begin the season. He went to the bullpen and made just one start on June 9, along with 13 relief appearances, before returning to the rotation on July 29.
“I can’t say enough about him,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. “What we asked of him at the beginning of the year is hard to do. From spring training on, he wanted to be a starter, but it didn’t work out in the beginning. And now he’s getting a chance and he’s taken advantage of it.”
In his last five starts, he is 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings.
As a starter, Francis feels a difference.
“I can slow the game down. I can speed it up if I want to,” Francis said. “When you come in as a reliever, the game is already set at a tempo. The hitters attack differently. As a starter, you can play a little more chess. With relievers, it’s more like checkers.”
The Angels are expected to start right-hander Carson Fulmer (0-4, 4.24 ERA), who has an 0-1 record and a 7.88 ERA in two career starts against Toronto.
Fulmer allowed five runs and five hits in three innings in a 6-1 home loss to the Blue Jays on August 13. He allowed home runs by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Spencer Horwitz.
“The frustrating thing for me is I’m pretty hard on myself personally,” he said after that loss. “I think it’s unacceptable for something like that to happen. We’re a tight-knit group. We show up every day and we’re ready to play. I’m not going to say the (Blue Jays) aren’t as good as anyone else. It’s the big league. Everyone’s here for a reason. We have to show up and be ready to play. But it starts with me. I’ve got to get better at getting deeper into games.”
Toronto’s Daulton Varsho hit 2-for-4 on Friday night and reached base in 21 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the American League. During that span, he posted a batting average (22-for-78) with two home runs and eight RBIs.
Moniak (elbow) did not play on Friday but is expected to return on Saturday.
Guerrero had a day off on Friday.
The Angels selected the contract of right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn on Friday and designated right-hander Mike Baumann for assignment.
–Field level media
