"Toronto's starting five last year when spring training ended included Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, José Berrios, Max Scherzer and Bowden Francis. The knock on the rotation going into the year was that it was perhaps a little bit on the older side, with Francis being the youngest at 28, but he had an impressively strong finish in 2024. The other positive for this rotation was that these are all guys who are innings eaters and can go deep into games."
"Easton Lucas was given a chance to fill in and after two very good starts in which he gave up a combined four hits and no runs in 10.1 innings pitched, his production tanked as he allowed 14 earned runs in 6.2 innings over his next two outings. Lucas was sent down to the minor leagues and only made two more appearances with Toronto the rest of the season while Toronto started to use Yariel Rodriguez and José Ureña in some spot starts."
The Blue Jays entered 2025 with a projected rotation led by Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, José Berrios, Max Scherzer and Bowden Francis, featuring experienced, heavy-innings starters but limited depth behind the five. Scherzer's early injury exposed the thin backend, prompting spot starts from Easton Lucas, Yariel Rodriguez, José Ureña, Paxton Shultz and Braydon Fisher, while Lucas faltered after initial success and was optioned. Bowden Francis failed to replicate his prior season, producing a 6.05 ERA, 43 earned runs, 19 homers allowed and a 1.531 WHIP through 64 innings. Offseason additions now promise sufficient starter depth to avoid emergency midseason signings.
Read at Jays Journal
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