Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Gives up eight hits in loss
Rotowire
Francis (2-3) took the loss against the Astros on Wednesday, allowing three runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out two over 4.2 innings.
All three of the runs Francis yielded came in the third inning, highlighted by a solo homer by Christian Walker, but he managed to limit the damage after getting out of a bases-loaded jam. He registered 17 first-pitch strikes but only six whiffs on 79 pitches, and his two punchouts were his lowest through five starts. Francis has a 3.58 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 22:9 K:BB across 27.2 innings this season, and he's projected to make his next start next week at home against the Red Sox.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Mostly cruises through six innings
Rotowire
Francis (2-2) earned the win Friday against the Mariners after allowing one run on five hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out five.
Other than a Rowdy Tellez solo home run in the second inning, the Mariners didn't have much of an answer for Francis on Friday. The 28-year-old Francis was a popular 2025 breakout candidate in some fantasy circles before the season, as he boasted a 1.80 ERA, 0.60 WHIP and 58:8 K:BB over his final 65 innings of 2024, and the right-hander is off to a fine start this year with a 3.13 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 20:8 K:BB through 23 innings. Francis has given up five homers over four starts, so he'll be looking to keep the ball in the park in next week's scheduled outing in Houston against an underperforming Astros lineup.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Fades after dominant start
Rotowire
Francis (1-2) took the loss against the Orioles on Saturday, allowing five runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five across 5.2 innings.
Francis was excellent out of the gates, retiring the first 13 batters faced. However, things turned on their head in the fifth inning when Heston Kjerstad broke up the shutout effort with a two-run home run to center field. Francis came back out for the sixth frame, but he proceeded to be tagged for three more runs (two of which came on a Cedric Mullins double) before being replaced by Yariel Rodriguez. It was a disappointing finish for Francis in what looked to be a quality start, and through three starts he's registered a 4.76 ERA and 1.12 WHIP across 17 innings. He'll look to bounce back in his next start, which is tentatively slated for next weekend at home against the Mariners.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Game postponed Friday
Rotowire
Francis will not make his scheduled start Friday against the Orioles, as the game has been postponed due to rain.
The game will not be made up this weekend -- instead it will be made up as part of a split doubleheader July 29. Francis seems unlikely to be skipped, however, given how well he has pitched thus far. The right-hander has put up a 3.18 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 10:5 K:BB in 11.1 innings spanning two starts this season.
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Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Solid again despite loss
Rotowire
Francis (1-1) took the loss Sunday versus the Mets, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out six.
Francis worked around six singles over his 90 pitches, out of which he generated 10 whiffs. The New York lineup was unable to square up the Toronto right-hander, as the pair of runs they were plated in the third inning came on a Pete Alonso single and Brandon Nimmo sacrifice fly. Francis now sports a 3.18 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with a 10:5 K:BB over his first 11.1 innings. The 28-year-old lines up to make his next start at Baltimore next weekend.
Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Takes no-hit bid into sixth inning
Rotowire
Francis (1-0) picked up the win after allowing two runs on two hits and three walks in six innings Monday against Washington. He struck out four.
Although Francis gave up just two hits, both were home runs. In fact, the right-hander had tossed five no-hit innings before CJ Abrams and James Wood went back-to-back for a couple of solo shots in the sixth frame. Francis is set to function as a full-time member of the rotation in 2025 and how has a 1.50 ERA over his last nine starts dating back to last year, with his next showing tentatively set for this weekend on the road against the Mets.
Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Gets stretched out Thursday
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.
Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Shelled in first spring start
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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