Blue Jays Pitcher, Yusei Kikuchi, Demonstrated His Value Last Year, Leading to Their Initial Caution About Parting Ways. However, This Current Season Has Shown a New Trend.
Headline: Yusei Kikuchi's Redemption Tour Starts Against His Old Team, the Blue Jays
Gregor "G" Chisholm, the Toronto-based baseball enthusiast, is always ready to share his insights on his Twitter handle, @GregorChisholm. Fans can also reach him via email: [email protected].
Get ready to see an old face on the mound for the Los Angeles Angels, and that's none other than Yusei Kikuchi, who was once a tormented soul for the Blue Jays.
With a twist of fate, Kikuchi will toe the rubber opposite his former team on Wednesday night. It'll be his first face-off against the Jays since they traded him to the Houston Astros at last year's deadline.
Back then, the lowly-ranked Jays spoke of a potential reunion in the off-season, but that never materialized. Kikuchi's stellar second half priced himself beyond Toronto's budget for a fourth or fifth starter.
The numbers that Kikuchi posted during his time with the Astros were nothing short of astounding. Following a 4.75 ERA in 22 starts for the Jays, he went 5-1 with a jaw-dropping 2.70 ERA, striking out an eye-popping career-high 11.4 batters per nine innings in just ten outings.
Only once did he surrender more than three earned runs in those starts. In seven others, he allowed a mere two earned runs or less. Kikuchi could have likely been a mid-rotation pitcher with the Jays, but with the Astros, he brought out his inner ace and they splashed the cash with a mind-boggling three-year deal worth $63.68 million (U.S.).
The charm has since faded, though. In seven starts so far this season, Kikuchi has struggled mightily, going 0-4 with a less-than-stellar 4.21 ERA. His 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings are his lowest since 2019, while his 4.7 walks per nine innings have soared to a concerning level. Equally troublesome, he's given up nearly a home run per game, which isn't ace-like at all.
Experience has taught us that Kikuchi's career has been a rollercoaster. When he's on, few pitchers perform better. And when he's off, there aren't too many high-priced arms who pitch worse. The Toronto folk bear witness to this up-and-down ride firsthand.
During Kikuchi's first year with the Jays, he was dragged from the rotation in July due to his dismal 5.25 ERA in 20 starts. He spent the rest of 2022 as a long reliever and didn't return to starting until 2023.
The following season was better, with Kikuchi going 11-6 with a 3.86 ERA in 32 starts while cutting his walk rate in half. He carried that momentum into the first two months of 2024 before reverting back to his old ways. Over 11 starts with the Jays in June and July, Kikuchi faltered, going 2-5 with a disappointing 6.42 ERA.
But the Astros didn't turn their backs on Kikuchi. With a dearth of frontline starters available at the deadline, Houston took a gamble on the unpredictable pitcher. The Jays, in exchange, received a package of prospects that included right-hander Jake Bloss, Will Wagner, and Joey Loperfido.
At the time, critics appraised the Astros as overpaying for Kikuchi, but then he went out and dazzled, pitching better than ever before. He started throwing his slider more frequently and his fastball less, and he dominated down the stretch, with the Astros winning each of his first nine starts.
Those critics who bashed the Jays for not making similar changes to Kikuchi's pitch mix missed a key point: This is a pitcher who is constantly tweaking his approach. What works well one day might not work tomorrow, and he's always experimenting to find the right formula.
The Jays might have struck gold with Kikuchi at the right time. And it might be the Angels who are fortunate too. After a solid beginning, the Angels have been slumping recently, dropping 15 of their last 19 games, falling from playoff contention to the doldrums of the standings.
For the Jays, this mid-week series represents a brief reprieve. So far, their schedule has been among the most arduous in the majors, aside from a one-off series against the Washington Nationals. All of their other opponents started the year with playoff aspirations.
This breather won't last long, as the Jays will subsequently travel to Seattle to face the Mariners. Afterward, they'll battle the leading Detroit Tigers, the Padres, who lead the NL wild-card race, and divisional rivals the Tampa Bay Rays.
Kikuchi will need to put on a clinic to ensure the midweek series isn't a walkover. Historically, he has kept his former club within striking distance, and this time he hopes to take advantage of that same lineup and notch a couple of strikeouts.
Despite the separation, there's no bad blood between Kikuchi and the Blue Jays. Kikuchi had nothing but kind words for Toronto, and the Jays were interested in bringing him back until they could no longer afford him. But come Wednesday, Kikuchi will be out to make a statement that he was worth every penny.
Opinion articles are based on the author's personal views, interpretations, and judgments of facts, data, and events[1].
- Gregor Chisholm, an ardent baseball fan based in Toronto, frequently shares insights about baseball, sports, and sports news on his Twitter handle, @GregorChisholm.
- Fans can also reach out to him via email at [email protected].
- The Angels will see Yusei Kikuchi, who once caused difficulties for the Blue Jays, on the mound soon.
- Interestingly, Kikuchi will face the Blue Jays for the first time since they traded him to the Houston Astros last season.
- While the Blue Jays contemplated a potential reunion during the off-season, Kikuchi's impressive second half made him too pricey for a fourth or fifth starter in Toronto's budget.
- The numbers Kikuchi posted with the Astros were remarkable, boasting a 2.70 ERA in his ten starts and a career-high 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings.
- However, Kikuchi's performance this season for the Angels has been underwhelming, with a 4.21 ERA in seven starts, with concerning walk rates and almost a home run per game allowed, which is far from ace-like.
