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• Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Gets stretched out Thursday

  6D ago • By 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

  18D ago • By RotoWire

  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

  02/24/2025 • By 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: Blanks BoSox in no-decision

  09/25/2024 • By RotoWire

  Francis came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Red Sox, allowing three hits and a walk over five scoreless innings. He struck out four. In his final start of the season, Francis saw his quality-start streak snapped at seven when he got the hook after just 71 pitches (48 strikes), but he still ended a breakout campaign on a high note. The right-hander developed a splitter in the minors and moved back into the big-league rotation after the All-Star break, and the new pitch helped him deliver a dazzling 1.80 ERA, 0.60 WHIP and 58:8 K:BB through 65 innings. Francis has put himself firmly in Toronto's 2025 pitching plans.

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• Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Logs seventh straight quality start

  09/19/2024 • By 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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