Kevin Gausman Struggles Against Texas Rangers in Blue Jays Outing

Kevin Gausman allowed 10 hits and surrendered multiple home runs during a Thursday start against the Texas Rangers. According to game data, the Toronto Blue Jays veteran struggled early before completing six innings, finishing with two walks and four strikeouts on 99 pitches, 67 of which were strikes.

How did the Texas Rangers attack Gausman?

Texas took an immediate lead when leadoff hitter Joc Pederson hit a solo home run over the right-field wall. Pederson reached the blast on the 11th pitch of the at-bat after a 10-pitch battle with Gausman.

The Rangers expanded their lead in the third inning with two multi-run homers. Wyatt Langford hit an 85.8-m.p.h. slider to left-centre with two runners on to make it 4-0, followed three batters later by a two-run home run from Jake Burger on a hanging splitter.

Did You Know? Kevin Gausman is currently in the final year of a $110-million contract he signed with Toronto before the 2022 season.

How did Gausman respond to the early lead?

Gausman avoided further damage in the fourth inning after loading the bases with one out. He escaped the jam by forcing Wyatt Langford and Corey Seager to pop out on the infield.

The 14-year MLB veteran then pitched scoreless fifth and sixth innings. This effort saved the Toronto bullpen before Gausman was replaced by Simeon Woods-Richardson.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter notes that Gausman’s ability to stabilize after a volatile start is critical given his current contract status. The contrast between his early-inning struggles and his late-game composure suggests a volatile trend that could impact his value as he nears the end of his $110-million deal.

What are Kevin Gausman’s recent statistics?

Gausman entered Thursday’s contest with a 7.20 ERA across four June starts. In those 20 innings, he gave up 18 hits, 16 runs, and five home runs.

Kevin Gausman gets his FIRST STRIKEOUT AS A BLUE JAY | Texas Rangers @ Toronto Blue Jays 4-9-2022

The only June outing where he allowed fewer than four runs occurred on June 13 against the New York Yankees. For the full season, the 35-year-old now holds a 4.36 ERA over 95 frames in 17 starts.

What happens next for the Blue Jays starter?

Gausman may face continued scrutiny regarding his consistency as he attempts to lower his June ERA. A possible next step involves adjusting the splitter and slider to avoid the “hanging” pitches that led to the Rangers’ home runs.

Depending on his performance in upcoming starts, Gausman could see shifts in his usage as Toronto manages his workload during the final year of his current deal.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many pitches did Gausman throw on Thursday?
Gausman threw 99 pitches, including 67 strikes.

Who replaced Kevin Gausman in the game?
Simeon Woods-Richardson took over after Gausman completed six innings.

What is Gausman’s current season ERA?
He has a 4.36 ERA over 17 starts and 95 frames.

How do you think Gausman’s performance in June will affect his next contract negotiations?