The Toronto Blue Jays have bounced back from their disappointing sweep at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays from the past weekend.
The Blue Jays clinched a series win against the Los Angeles Angels in game two of the three-game set Saturday. Toronto beat Los Angeles 14-1.
The Blue Jays won game one 2-0.
While Toronto's offense put up its highest amount of runs this season, starting pitcher Trey Yesavage continued his triumphant return to the Blue Jays rotation.
Yesavage had a delayed start to the season after suffering a right shoulder impingement in spring training.
This was a disappointing development for the Blue Jays top prospect, who made his debut in September of last year and registered three regular starts before being one of the team's most consistent hurlers in the postseason.
During Toronto's playoff run, which saw the franchise win its first American League pennant since 1993, Yesavage posted a 3.58 ERA and struck out 39 batters in 27.2 innings pitched across six appearances (five starts).
Yesavage was activated off the injured list and made his season debut against the Boston Red Sox on April 28. And since his return, he's been lights out for the Blue Jays.
Through his first three starts of the season, Yesavage has a 0.68 ERA and has fanned 15 hitters in 13.1 innings pitched.
Against the Angels on Saturday, Yesavage struck out six, walked two, hit a batter and gave up four hits without surrendering a run in four innings of work.
Due to his late start to the year, Yesavage doesn't qualify in most "advanced metrics" yet, but he's still producing impressive numbers. He's generated a chase rate of 33.3%, per Baseball Savant, which would be above league average.
Yesavage has also generated among the weakest contact among starting pitchers in baseball per the website. Hitters have an average exit velocity of 85.6 miles per hour against him, a barrel rate of 3.6% and a 17.9% hard-hit rate.
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Trey Yesavage throws during a game against the Minnesota Twins on May 3 at Target Field in Minneapolis. | Bruce Kluckhohn/Imagn Images.
With the win, Toronto's record improved to 18-21 on the season, 7.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the American League East.
The Blue Jays are currently a half-game back from the Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers for the final wild card spot.
If Toronto does bounce back from its poor start to the season, then Yesavage's continued stellar pitching will likely be a big reason why.
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