By Jin Sung Kim] For the third year in a row, he struck out 200 batters.
Kevin Gausman (32, Toronto Blue Jays) did it again. The right-hander improved to 6-3 on the season with six innings of four-hit ball (one homer), four strikeouts, two walks and one run in a home game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday (July 17). His season ERA is 3.01.
Entering the second season of his five-year, $110 million contract, Gausman has lived up to Toronto’s expectations. The most reliable and consistent of Toronto’s starters. His combination of a fastball that sits around 95 mph and his main weapon, the splitter, is very potent.
Added four more strikeouts on the day, giving him 121 for the season. He’s on pace to reach 200 strikeouts for the third straight year, following 2021 (227) and 2022 (205). Given that the season hasn’t even turned the corner yet, there’s a chance he could set a career high beyond 2021.
He also led the American League in strikeouts. He’s on pace to finish fourth in 2021 and fifth last year, both with the San Francisco Giants. Through 17 days, he has passed Shohei Ohtani (LA Angels, 105 strikeouts) to lead the American League and is second in the majors. Spencer Strider (Atlanta Braves, 127 strikeouts) leads the majors.
Gausman has been more of a matchup pitcher in his last two games, striking out just four batters. Still, with two outs in the first inning, he fanned Adolis Garcia on a 97-mph fastball and then struck out the side with an 86.5-mph splitter. Typical strikeout pattern for Gausman.
In the second inning, Gaussman used a slider and splitter for two strikes on Mitch Garber at first base before inducing a swinging strikeout with a 97-mph fastball. In the third, he gave up an 89-mph fastball up the middle to leadoff hitter Leandro Tavares for a mid-month solo shot, but he got Corey Seager on a slider and splitter for two strikes before getting a 97-mph fastball low and away for a groundout. He also struck out Garcia on a splitter with runners on first and second in the sixth.안전놀이터
If Toronto were to make the postseason tomorrow, Gausman would be my number one starter. Jose Berrios has been resurgent of late, but Gaussman has the edge in reliability. It’s best for Toronto to have Hyun-jin Ryu as a second or third starter in the second half to support the two.