Yusei Kikuchi is making the Toronto Blue Jays look foolish
Photo credit: Kyodo News
The Toronto Blue Jays have been having problems with their starting rotation this season while former pitcher Yusei Kikuchi has been thriving with the Los Angeles Angels.
The Blue Jays are rapidly climbing the AL East standings but are still having issues with their starting rotation which only has 4 starting pitchers including one which is Bowden Francis who has been brutal this season.
Yusei Kikuchi making the Blue Jays regret letting him go
The Blue Jays trade Kikuchi to the Houston Astros at last year's trade deadline in which they go an incredible return for and while many believed that they would bring him back in free agency, they did not even make him an offer as he went to the Angels.
The Angels signed Kikuchi to a three year deal worth $63 million which look phenomenal right now as he currently has a 2.92 ERA on the season with 68 strikeouts, a 1.47 WHIP in 14 games.
Kikuchi, who improved to 2-5 with a 2.92 ERA, hadn't gone deeper than six innings in any of his previous 13 starts this season. It was his longest outing since also going 7 1/3 innings against the Giants on July 9, 2024, while with the Blue Jays. -Bollinger
After an incredible start earlier this week, Angels manager Ron Washington had nothing but good things to say about the former Blue Jays pitcher.
«He located his fastball,» Washington said. «He threw some sliders that were down and in. That was his signature pitch last year. He got some curveballs in there. Moved the ball around. He worked fast. He got quick outs. That's what you want.» -Washington
As the Blue Jays continue to struggle with keeping their starting pitcher healthy and consistent, it is clear that they made a mistake in keeping Bowden Francis over Kikuchi this season.
Kikuchi made it clear when he left Toronto that he loved it there and would have gladly stayed but for some reason the front office thought it was time to move on which has been a costly mistake.
Source: MLB.com
Kikuchi controls the strike zone, and the A's, in deep start
Kikuchi controls the strike zone, and the A's, in deep start
| POLL | ||
JUIN 12 | 2306 ANSWERS Yusei Kikuchi is making the Toronto Blue Jays look foolish Should the Blue Jays have brought Yusei Kikuchi back? | ||
| Yes | 1552 | 67.3 % |
| No | 754 | 32.7 % |
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