Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Blanks BoSox in no-decision
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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
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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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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Another quality start in loss
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Francis (8-4) took the loss Wednesday against the Phillies, allowing three runs on six hits over six innings. He struck out six.
While Francis ultimately took his first loss since Aug. 4, the right-hander turned in another strong effort against the Phillies. Francis allowed a solo home run to Kyle Schwarber in the first inning and a two-run shot to Kody Clemens in the second before holding Philadelphia scoreless over his final four frames. The 28-year-old Francis had allowed just four runs over his previous five starts (34 innings) while posting a stellar 0.38 WHIP in that span. Overall, his ERA sits at 3.72 on the year with a 0.99 WHIP and 81:19 K:BB across 84.2 innings this year. Francis is currently slated to face the Mets at home in his next outing.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Flirts with no-hitter in win
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Francis (7-3) earned the win against the Angels on Saturday, allowing one run on one hit and three walks with 12 strikeouts over eight innings.
Francis carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning before Taylor Ward ended his outing with a solo home run. Francis threw a career-high 117 pitches, including a ridiculous 84 strikes, and registered double-digit punchouts for the first time ever. The 28-year-old has now completed at least seven innings in three consecutive outings while yielding just five total hits and two earned runs in that span. On the year, he owns a 4.02 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 70:19 K:BB across 71.2 innings and will try to keep the good times rolling against the Red Sox next week.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Stellar again in win
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Francis (6-3) allowed three hits and struck out seven without walking a batter over seven shutout innings to earn the win over the Cubs on Sunday.
Joey Loperfido's second-inning home run was all the support Francis needed in this outing. Over his last three outings, Francis has allowed just three runs while posting a 22:1 K:BB across 19 innings. It's relatively newfound success for the 28-year-old, as he did little of note in the first half of the campaign. Francis is at a 4.38 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 58:16 K:BB across 63.2 innings over 21 appearances (seven starts) this season. He's projected for a favorable home start versus the Angels in his next appearance.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Slated to start Wednesday
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Francis is listed as the Blue Jays' scheduled starting pitcher for Wednesday's home game against the Orioles, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Though trade-deadline pickup Ryan Yarbrough could eventually get a look in the Blue Jays rotation, he'll begin his time with Toronto as a reliever, which paves the way for Francis to stick around as the club's No. 5 starter. Francis was called up from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday and proceeded to start in the second game of the Blue Jays' twin bill in Baltimore. He fell just shy of a quality start with three earned runs allowed over 5.2 innings, and he'll head into the rematch with the Orioles with a 5.68 ERA and 1.44 WHIP across 44.1 frames at the big-league level this season.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Grabs win in Game 2 of twin bill
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Francis (4-2) earned the win in the second game of Monday's doubleheader versus the Orioles, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk while striking out two batters over 5.2 innings.
Francis was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo earlier Monday in order to serve as Toronto's starter in the second game of the twin bill. The right-hander gave up three runs on two homers over his first two innings but managed to settle down after that, pitching into the sixth frame and falling one out shy of a quality start. Francis had come out of the bullpen for 13 of his previous 16 big-league outings this season, though he started in four of his six appearances in Triple-A and dominated with a 0.93 ERA, 0.58 WHIP and 24:3 K:BB over 19.1 frames. With Yusei Kikuchi traded to Houston on Monday, Francis figures to stick in the rotation, and he's tentatively slated to face the Yankees in New York this weekend.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Confirmed for Monday's nightcap
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Francis will be called up from Triple-A Buffalo to start Game 2 of Monday's doubleheader at Baltimore, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Francis made his previous start for Buffalo on Wednesday, so he'll be taking the hill on regular rest in Monday's twin bill. The right-hander has a 5.82 ERA over 38.2 major-league innings this season, but he's been lights out at Triple-A with a 0.93 ERA, 0.58 WHIP and 24:3 K:BB across 19.1 frames.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Likely to start during doubleheader
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Francis is likely to be called up from Triple-A Buffalo to start one game of Monday's doubleheader versus the Orioles, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Yariel Rodriguez is tentatively lined up to pitch the other game Monday. Francis has tossed nine scoreless innings with a 13:1 K:BB in two starts since being optioned to Buffalo on July 14 and would be available on four days' rest Monday. Francis has been less effective during his time in the majors this season with a 5.82 ERA covering three starts and 13 relief outings.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Sent down to Triple-A
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The Blue Jays optioned Francis to Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Francis tossed two scoreless innings in relief Saturday and will move down to the minors in favor of a fresh arm in left-hander Brandon Eisert, who was recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move. The right-hander had been struggling prior to Saturday's outing, allowing seven earned runs over his previous five frames.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Nabs win as bulk reliever
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Francis (3-2) picked up the win Saturday, allowing four hits over four scoreless relief innings in a 5-0 victory over the Guardians. He struck out two without walking a batter.
The right-hander was the fourth Toronto pitcher into the game, but he handled the bulk-relief role with aplomb, firing 44 of 68 pitches for strikes. Francis has tossed eight scoreless innings over his last two appearances, but with Yariel Rodriguez (back) close to coming off the 15-day injured list, Francis likely won't be in line for a full-time appointment to the rotation. Since a tough beginning to the season as a starter, Francis has posted a 3.06 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 12:4 K:BB through 17.2 innings over his last six outings sandwiched around an IL stint of his own due to forearm tendinitis.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Likely to pitch Saturday
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Francis is a candidate to start or serve in a bulk relief role Saturday against the Guardians, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The Blue Jays are declining to name a starter at this point, but Francis is likely to be their primary pitcher, whether it's as a traditional starter or a bulk reliever. Francis went four scoreless innings in a start his last time out but holds a 7.36 ERA over seven appearances (three starts) this season.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Starting Sunday
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Francis will start Sunday's game against the Athletics, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Francis will make his first start since being activated from the 15-day IL on Tuesday. The 28-year-old surrendered four runs and tossed 57 pitches in long relief Tuesday and has yielded 12 runs over 8.1 innings during his only two starts this season. However, he'll have the luxury of facing an Athletics lineup that is scoring just 3.6 runs per game in 2024.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Sharp in latest rehab outing
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Francis (forearm) struck out five over 3.2 innings in a rehab outing with Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday. He gave up one unearned run on one hit and one walk.
Francis made what was likely the fourth and final appearance of his rehab assignment and should be ready to return from the 15-day injured list this weekend. Shortly before he was shelved with right forearm extensor tendinitis in late April, Francis had been working out of the bullpen as a tandem starter with Yariel Rodriguez (back), but with Rodriguez joining Francis on the IL soon thereafter, Alek Manoah got a chance to reclaim the No. 5 spot in the rotation. Manoah exited his latest start Wednesday with right elbow discomfort, and if he ends up requiring an IL stint of his own, Francis could re-emerge as a rotation option in his return to the Blue Jays.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: One more rehab appearance
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Francis (forearm) will make what's expected to be his final rehab appearance with Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Francis has pitched well in his first three rehab outings, yielding three runs (two earned) with a 6:1 K:BB over 6.2 frames. He should be slated for a long-relief job once he's activated.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Another rehab outing on tap
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Francis (forearm) is scheduled to make a rehab appearance with Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Francis covered two scoreless innings for Buffalo in his first rehab appearance Tuesday. The 28-year-old righty-hander will likely fill a long-relief role upon his return, so he could be deemed ready for activation following Saturday's outing.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Looks good in rehab outing
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Francis (forearm) struck out four batters and allowed only one hit over two scoreless innings Tuesday in a rehab appearance for Triple-A Buffalo.
The right-hander was shut down in late April due to forearm tendinitis, but Francis' sharp rehab outing suggests he's just about ready to rejoin the big-league staff. Alek Manoah is coming off a strong start as the fifth starter, so Francis will likely be ticketed for long relief when he returns. After a couple rough outings in the rotation to begin the season, Francis has 2.84 ERA and 5:3 K:BB in 6.1 relief innings for the Blue Jays.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Shelved with forearm injury
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The Blue Jays placed Francis on the 15-day injured list Thursday with right forearm extensor tendinitis.
Since making his last start April 7, Francis has made his subsequent three appearances as a piggyback reliever behind starter Yariel Rodriguez. Francis scooped up wins in 2.1- and two-inning outings April 13 and 19, but he didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Royals after tossing two scoreless frames once Rodriguez exited the contest. Though he didn't appear to be nursing any sort of injury during the relief outing, Francis was apparently diagnosed with the forearm issue when he was evaluated afterward. He won't be eligible to rejoin Toronto until May 10 after landing on the IL.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Collects win in relief
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Francis (2-2) picked up the win Friday against the Padres, allowing one hit and one walk over two scoreless relief innings. He struck out two.
After a brutal start to the season in the rotation, Francis has looked much more comfortable back in a long-relief role and has been credited with wins in back-to-back appearances while piggybacking with Yariel Rodriguez. Francis still carries an awful 9.95 ERA and 1.82 WHIP through 12.2 innings, but his 17:7 K:BB highlights his potential if he can get his control and command issues sorted out.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Cruises through six innings
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Francis kept rolling Thursday in his Grapefruit League outing versus the Twins, yielding just one unearned run over six innings. He struck out two.
The Twins plated a single run in the third inning following an Eduardo Escobar error, but that's the only tally they managed on the day. Francis needed only 67 pitches to get through his six frames, permitting just four singles and no walks. The right-hander lowered his spring ERA to 1.93, and he holds a 12:2 K:BB over 14 innings. With Alek Manoah (shoulder) all but certain to open the season on the injured list, Francis appears close to locking up the fifth spot in Toronto's rotation, if he hasn't done so already.
