After turning a potential no-hitter into a frustrating defeat, the Toronto Blue Jays will look to rebound on Friday night as they open a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Right-hander Bowden Francis was cruising with a no-hit bid against the New York Mets on Wednesday until Francisco Lindor blasted a leadoff home run in the ninth, tying the game at 1-1. Francis exited, and the bullpen collapsed, allowing five more runs, leading to a 6-2 defeat in the deciding game of the series.
This marked the second time in four starts that Francis lost a no-hitter due to a ninth-inning leadoff homer. Blue Jays manager John Schneider reflected on the difficulty of maintaining a no-hitter: “So many things have to go your way,” Schneider said. “Whether it’s a borderline pitch, a play behind you, or how you’re feeling physically. Everything has to fall into place.”
The only no-hitter in Blue Jays franchise history was thrown by Dave Stieb on September 2, 1990.
The Cardinals (74-72) are fresh off a 6-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, which wrapped up a 3-3 homestand and trimmed their deficit in the National League wild card race to six games. The Blue Jays (69-78), however, have struggled recently, winning just four of their last 14 games. After talking about playing spoiler, they’ve now lost four straight series to playoff-hopeful teams.
First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who has been a cornerstone of the Blue Jays’ offense this season, is currently in a slump. He’s hitting just .179 (5-for-28) with no home runs and three RBIs over the last seven games. Despite this dip, Guerrero has posted strong numbers at home this year, batting .347 with 15 homers and 49 RBIs in 70 home games.
Toronto will send Kevin Gausman (12-11, 4.09 ERA) to the mound on Friday. Gausman has a 3.43 ERA in 10 career games (six starts) against St. Louis but holds a 1-5 record. The Cardinals will counter with Erick Fedde (8-9, 3.39 ERA), who previously allowed five runs in six innings in a 9-3 loss to Toronto while pitching for the Chicago White Sox back in May. In four career starts against Toronto, Fedde is 2-1 with a 4.87 ERA.
Despite Toronto’s recent struggles, Francis has emerged as a bright spot. Over his last six starts, he boasts a 4-1 record with a sparkling 1.26 ERA and a 0.40 WHIP—the lowest over a six-start span in modern MLB history. “I know I can start in the big leagues,” Francis said confidently after his last outing. “I’ve always believed in that.”
On the Cardinals’ side, they showcased a glimpse of the future on Thursday, as 22-year-old second baseman Thomas Saggese collected his first two major league hits and his first RBI. “It felt amazing,” Saggese said, adding that he felt a bit of pressure to get his first hit. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol praised the young player: “He’s gritty, and it’s been fun watching him play.”
The Cardinals also saw contributions from Brendan Donovan, who hit a two-run homer as a pinch hitter, and Masyn Winn, who also went deep.
In roster moves, Toronto claimed right-hander Brett de Geus off waivers from the Miami Marlins and assigned him to Triple-A Buffalo, while designating Yerry Rodriguez for assignment.
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