Elite pitching is going to waste

There’s an old saying in baseball that good pitching beats good hitting, but it leaves out one important detail: The team with the superior arms still has to be able to score.

- GREGOR CHISHOLM

Chris Bassitt has given up one run in his past 13 innings, yet the Jays have lost each of his past two starts.

The Blue Jays have possessed enough pitching to be considered a World Series contender for the better part of two years. What they don’t have is enough hitting and as a result one of the better starting rotations in franchise history isn’t achieving the success it deserves.

Chris Bassitt said what everyone was thinking following Wednesday’s loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. He conceded Jays starters have to be good, that was “just the reality of our team.”

Left unsaid was that even when the pitchers are performing well, it’s often not enough to win.

Since May 13, Jays starters have gone just 10-8 despite ranking fourth in the majors with a 2.78 ERA. During that same time frame, the third-ranked Phillies went 12-2 with a 2.69 ERA. The difference in team records is even more stark, with the Jays at 14-13 and the Phillies at 17-9.

While wasted quality starts have been noticeable since 2023, they have become even more apparent of late. The rotation has a 1.24 ERA over its last nine games with a 5-4 record. In other words, they’ve found a way to turn elite performances on the mound into average results in the standings.

Consider the following: