Blue Jays Quick Hits: Kendrys Morales, Aaron Loup, Ken Giles and more

Blue Jays news and notes from August 4th, 2018, including a checkup on some former Blue Jays and the debut of a new closer.

Giles Officially a Jay

Just less than a week after being traded from the Houston Astros to the Blue Jays, closer Ken Giles made his Blue Jays debut Friday, pitching an inning, allowing one earned run on two hits, striking out three. The 27-year-old now has a season ERA of 5.12.

Loup Makes His Debut in Red

Longtime Blue Jay Aaron Loup made his Philadelphia Phillies debut after being traded minutes before the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline. Loup, who went to Philly in exchange for MiLB pitcher Jacob Waguespack, faced only one batter Friday, who he hit.

A LOOGY by trade, Loup currently sports an ERA of 4.54 on the season, tossing 35.2 frames and striking out 42 while walking 13. He was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 9th round of the 2009 draft.

Axford Activated by Dodgers

Another reliever traded at the deadline, John Axford was recently activated by his new team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday and will likely make his LA debut sometime this weekend.

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Axford, 35, has made 12 appearances in which he’s gotten four or more outs, sporting a season’s ERA of 4.41 in 51.0 innings, including a start.

Cumpton Optioned to Make Room for Pillar

Right-handed pitcher Brandon Cumpton was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo to make room for the re-activated Kevin Pillar, who batted ninth in Friday’s tilt against the Seattle Mariners.

Cumpton, 29, signed as a minor league free agent last month, pitching 1.2 innings for the boys in blue, allowing a single earned run on three hits, striking out two and walking two.

Morales Continues Hot Streak

Once an offensive liability, Kendrys Morales has been on fire lately, slashing .319/.421/.489 over his last 13 games, mashing two homers and two doubles in 47 at-bats. Striking out five times, he’s walked eight(!) times in 57 plate appearances.

Morales barely reached the Mendoza line at the end of May and now has a season’s batting average of .253, the highest of any Blue Jay in the starting lineup Friday.