%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201443.9%20200%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%201443.9%20200%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cstyle%20type%3D%22text%2Fcss%22%3E%0A%09.st0%7Bfill%3A%23231F20%3B%7D%0A%09.st1%7Bfill%3A%23134A8E%3B%7D%0A%09.st2%7Bfill%3A%23FFFFFF%3B%7D%0A%09.st3%7Bfill%3A%23E8291C%3B%7D%0A%3C%2Fstyle%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Template%22%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Layer_2%22%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M75%2C7.9v143.5c0%2C26.8-21.8%2C48.6-48.6%2C48.6H7.9c-4.4%2C0-7.9-3.5-7.9-7.9v-34.2c0-4.4%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h9.2%0A%09%09c4.4%2C0%2C7.9-3.5%2C7.9-7.9V7.9c0-4.3%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h34.2C71.5%2C0.1%2C75%2C3.6%2C75%2C7.9z%20M53.2%2C14.8c0-1.5-1.2-2.8-2.8-2.8%0A%09%09c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8v136.7c0%2C11.5-9.3%2C20.8-20.8%2C20.8H14.4c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8s1.2%2C2.8%2C2.8%2C2.8h12.4%0A%09%09c14.6%2C0%2C26.4-11.8%2C26.4-26.4V14.8z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M221.8%2C197.7c-1.2%2C1.5-3%2C2.3-4.9%2C2.3h-36.9c-3.7%2C0-7-2.6-7.7-6.3l-3.3-16.1c-0.4-1.8-2-3.2-3.9-3.2h-26.4%0A%09%09c-1.9%2C0-3.5%2C1.3-3.9%2C3.2l-3.1%2C15.9c-0.7%2C3.7-4%2C6.4-7.7%2C6.4H87.4c-1.9%2C0-3.7-0.8-4.9-2.3c-1.2-1.5-1.7-3.4-1.3-5.2L117.3%2C6.4%0A%09%09c0.7-3.7%2C4-6.4%2C7.7-6.4h52.4c3.7%2C0%2C7%2C2.6%2C7.7%2C6.3l38%2C186.1C223.5%2C194.3%2C223%2C196.2%2C221.8%2C197.7z%20M197.4%2C191.5%0A%09%09c0.5-0.6%2C0.7-1.5%2C0.6-2.3L163.9%2C22.3H135l-32.3%2C166.9c-0.3%2C1.5%2C0.7%2C2.9%2C2.2%2C3.2c1.5%2C0.3%2C2.9-0.7%2C3.2-2.1l7.4-37.9h69.3l7.8%2C37.9%0A%09%09c0.3%2C1.3%2C1.4%2C2.2%2C2.7%2C2.2C196.1%2C192.5%2C196.8%2C192.1%2C197.4%2C191.5z%20M159.3%2C27.9l24.3%2C118.9h-67.1l23.1-118.9H159.3z%20M156.3%2C124.5%0A%09%09c0.5%2C0%2C0.9-0.2%2C1.2-0.6c0.3-0.4%2C0.4-0.8%2C0.3-1.3l-4.6-36.7c-0.2-0.7-0.8-1.3-1.6-1.3c-0.8%2C0-1.4%2C0.5-1.5%2C1.3l-4.4%2C36.7%0A%09%09c-0.1%2C0.5%2C0%2C0.9%2C0.3%2C1.3c0.3%2C0.4%2C0.7%2C0.6%2C1.2%2C0.6L156.3%2C124.5L156.3%2C124.5z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M335.5%2C2.7c1.2%2C1.7%2C1.5%2C3.9%2C0.7%2C5.8l-43.6%2C118c-0.6%2C1.7-1%2C3.6-1%2C5.5v60c0%2C4.4-3.5%2C7.9-7.9%2C7.9h-34.2%0A%09%09c-4.3%2C0-7.9-3.5-7.9-7.9v-60c0-1.9-0.3-3.7-1-5.5l-43.6-118c-0.7-1.9-0.4-4.1%2C0.7-5.8C199%2C1%2C201%2C0%2C203%2C0h38.8%0A%09%09c3.3%2C0%2C6.2%2C2.1%2C7.4%2C5.1l16%2C57.3c0.2%2C0.6%2C0.8%2C1%2C1.5%2C1c0.7%2C0%2C1.3-0.4%2C1.5-1l16-57.3c1.1-3.1%2C4.1-5.1%2C7.4-5.1h38.8%0A%09%09C332.4%2C0%2C334.4%2C1%2C335.5%2C2.7z%20M310%2C15.7c0.4-0.9%2C0.2-2-0.4-2.8c-0.6-0.8-1.7-1.2-2.6-1c-1%2C0.2-1.8%2C0.9-2.1%2C1.9l-38%2C102.9L228.7%2C13.8%0A%09%09c-0.3-1-1.1-1.7-2.1-1.9c-1-0.2-2%2C0.2-2.7%2C1c-0.6%2C0.8-0.8%2C1.9-0.4%2C2.8l40.5%2C109.5v61.2c0%2C1.5%2C1.2%2C2.8%2C2.8%2C2.8s2.8-1.2%2C2.8-2.8%0A%09%09v-61.2L310%2C15.7L310%2C15.7z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M460.2%2C134.4V151c0%2C26.8-21.8%2C48.6-48.6%2C48.6h-65c-4.4%2C0-7.9-3.5-7.9-7.9v-34.2c0-4.3%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h55.8%0A%09%09c4.3%2C0%2C7.9-3.5%2C7.9-7.9v-2.1c0-2.8-1.5-5.4-3.9-6.8l-45.7-26.7c-14.9-8.7-24-24.7-24.1-42V48.7c0-26.8%2C21.8-48.6%2C48.6-48.6h53.2%0A%09%09c4.3%2C0%2C7.9%2C3.5%2C7.9%2C7.9v34.2c0%2C4.3-3.5%2C7.9-7.9%2C7.9h-44c-4.4%2C0-7.9%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9v1c0%2C2.8%2C1.5%2C5.4%2C3.9%2C6.8l45.6%2C26.7%0A%09%09C451%2C101.2%2C460.2%2C117.1%2C460.2%2C134.4z%20M438.5%2C134.4c0-9.4-5-18-13.1-22.8l-50.2-29.4c-6.4-3.7-10.3-10.6-10.3-18V48.7%0A%09%09c0-11.5%2C9.3-20.8%2C20.8-20.8h43.6c1.5%2C0%2C2.8-1.2%2C2.8-2.8c0-1.5-1.2-2.8-2.8-2.8h-43.6c-14.6%2C0-26.4%2C11.8-26.4%2C26.4v15.6%0A%09%09c0%2C9.4%2C5%2C18%2C13.1%2C22.8l50.2%2C29.4c6.4%2C3.7%2C10.3%2C10.6%2C10.3%2C18v16.7c0%2C11.5-9.3%2C20.8-20.8%2C20.8h-60c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8%0A%09%09s1.2%2C2.8%2C2.8%2C2.8h60c14.6%2C0%2C26.4-11.8%2C26.4-26.4V134.4z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M613.7%2C7.9v143.5c0%2C26.8-21.8%2C48.6-48.6%2C48.6h-18.5c-4.4%2C0-7.9-3.5-7.9-7.9v-34.2c0-4.4%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h9.2%0A%09%09c4.4%2C0%2C7.9-3.5%2C7.9-7.9V7.9c0-4.3%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h34.2C610.2%2C0.1%2C613.7%2C3.6%2C613.7%2C7.9z%20M592%2C14.8c0-1.5-1.2-2.8-2.8-2.8%0A%09%09c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8v136.7c0%2C11.5-9.3%2C20.8-20.8%2C20.8h-12.4c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8s1.2%2C2.8%2C2.8%2C2.8h12.4%0A%09%09c14.6%2C0%2C26.4-11.8%2C26.4-26.4V14.8z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M759%2C100c0%2C12.9-0.3%2C26-1%2C38.9c-1.7%2C34.2-30%2C61.1-64.3%2C61.1h-2.2c-34.2%2C0-62.4-26.8-64.3-60.9%0A%09%09c-0.7-12.9-1.1-26.1-1.1-39c0-13%2C0.4-26.1%2C1.1-39.1c1.9-34.1%2C30.1-60.8%2C64.3-60.9h2.2c34.3-0.1%2C62.6%2C26.8%2C64.3%2C61.1%0A%09%09C758.7%2C74%2C759%2C87.1%2C759%2C100z%20M737.7%2C137.8c0.6-12.5%2C0.9-25.2%2C0.9-37.8s-0.3-25.2-0.9-37.8c-1.1-22.4-19.7-40-42.1-40h-2.2%0A%09%09c-22.4%2C0-40.9%2C17.5-42.1%2C39.9c-0.7%2C12.5-1.1%2C25.3-1.1%2C37.8c0%2C12.6%2C0.4%2C25.3%2C1.1%2C37.8c1.2%2C22.4%2C19.7%2C39.9%2C42.1%2C39.9h2.2%0A%09%09C718.1%2C177.8%2C736.6%2C160.2%2C737.7%2C137.8L737.7%2C137.8z%20M732.2%2C62.5c0.6%2C12.4%2C0.9%2C25%2C0.9%2C37.5c0%2C12.4-0.3%2C25.1-0.9%2C37.5%0A%09%09c-1%2C19.5-17.1%2C34.7-36.6%2C34.7h-2.2c-19.4%2C0-35.5-15.2-36.5-34.7c-0.7-12.4-1.1-25-1.1-37.5s0.4-25.1%2C1.1-37.5%0A%09%09c1.1-19.4%2C17.1-34.6%2C36.5-34.7h2.2C715.1%2C27.8%2C731.2%2C43.1%2C732.2%2C62.5z%20M709%2C100c0-12.1-0.3-24.3-0.9-36.4%0A%09%09C707.7%2C56%2C701.4%2C50%2C693.8%2C50h-2.2c-7.7%2C0-14%2C6-14.4%2C13.7c-0.7%2C12-1%2C24.2-1%2C36.3c0%2C12%2C0.3%2C24.2%2C1%2C36.3c0.4%2C7.6%2C6.7%2C13.6%2C14.4%2C13.7%0A%09%09h2.2c7.6%2C0%2C14-5.9%2C14.4-13.6C708.7%2C124.3%2C709%2C112.1%2C709%2C100z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M894.9%2C2.3c1.5%2C1.5%2C2.3%2C3.5%2C2.3%2C5.6v127.8c0%2C34.1-26.5%2C63.1-60.5%2C64.3c-17%2C0.6-33.6-5.7-45.9-17.6%0A%09%09c-12.3-11.8-19.2-28.1-19.3-45.2V7.9c0-4.4%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h34.2c4.3%2C0%2C7.9%2C3.5%2C7.9%2C7.9v128.7c-0.1%2C7.3%2C5.8%2C13.3%2C13.1%2C13.4%0A%09%09c7-0.1%2C12.5-5.8%2C12.6-12.8V7.9c0-4.3%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h34.2C891.4%2C0%2C893.4%2C0.9%2C894.9%2C2.3z%20M874.9%2C14.7c0-1.5-1.2-2.8-2.8-2.8%0A%09%09c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8v122.5c0%2C9.4-3.8%2C18.4-10.5%2C25c-6.7%2C6.6-15.8%2C10.2-25.2%2C10c-19.4-0.7-34.7-16.8-34.4-36.1V14.7%0A%09%09c0-1.5-1.2-2.8-2.8-2.8c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8v122.5c0%2C11.1%2C4.6%2C21.7%2C12.6%2C29.4c8%2C7.7%2C18.9%2C11.7%2C29.9%2C11.2%0A%09%09c21.9-1.4%2C38.9-19.7%2C38.7-41.7L874.9%2C14.7z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M1037.3%2C189.3c0.9%2C2.4%2C0.6%2C5.1-0.9%2C7.3c-1.5%2C2.1-3.9%2C3.4-6.5%2C3.4h-36.6c-3.3%2C0-6.2-2-7.4-5.1L970%2C152.5%0A%09%09c-0.6-1.5-2-2.5-3.7-2.5h-2.8c-1%2C0-2.1%2C0.4-2.8%2C1.2c-0.7%2C0.7-1.2%2C1.7-1.2%2C2.8v38.2c0%2C4.3-3.5%2C7.9-7.9%2C7.9h-34.2%0A%09%09c-4.4%2C0-7.9-3.5-7.9-7.9V7.9c0-4.4%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h71.4C1014-0.1%2C1035%2C19%2C1037.3%2C44c1%2C10.1%2C1.5%2C20.4%2C1.5%2C30.6%0A%09%09c0%2C10.5-0.5%2C21.1-1.5%2C31.5c-1.1%2C12.4-7%2C23.9-16.5%2C32.1c-1.3%2C1.1-1.7%2C2.8-1.2%2C4.4L1037.3%2C189.3z%20M1016.7%2C74.6c0-9.5-0.5-19-1.4-28.5%0A%09%09c-1.3-13.5-12.7-23.9-26.3-23.8H932v162.7c0%2C1.5%2C1.2%2C2.8%2C2.8%2C2.8c1.5%2C0%2C2.8-1.2%2C2.8-2.8v-57.3l47.9%2C0.1l21.9%2C58.3%0A%09%09c0.4%2C1.1%2C1.5%2C1.8%2C2.6%2C1.8c0.9%2C0%2C1.8-0.4%2C2.3-1.2c0.5-0.8%2C0.6-1.7%2C0.3-2.6l-21.2-56.4c12.7-1%2C22.8-11%2C24-23.7%0A%09%09C1016.3%2C94.2%2C1016.7%2C84.4%2C1016.7%2C74.6z%20M1009.8%2C46.6c0.9%2C9.3%2C1.3%2C18.7%2C1.3%2C28c0%2C9.6-0.4%2C19.3-1.3%2C28.8c-1%2C10.6-9.9%2C18.7-20.5%2C18.8%0A%09%09l-0.1-0.1l-0.4%2C0.2l-51.3-0.1V27.9h51.5C999.8%2C27.8%2C1008.8%2C36%2C1009.8%2C46.6z%20M988.2%2C92.5c0.4-6%2C0.6-12%2C0.5-17.9%0A%09%09c0-5.7-0.2-11.4-0.6-17.1c-0.3-4.2-3.7-7.4-7.9-7.4h-16.8c-2.2%2C0-3.9%2C1.8-3.9%2C3.9v42c0%2C2.2%2C1.8%2C3.9%2C3.9%2C3.9l16.8%2C0%0A%09%09C984.5%2C100%2C987.9%2C96.7%2C988.2%2C92.5L988.2%2C92.5z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M1176.9%2C7.9v184.2c0%2C4.3-3.5%2C7.9-7.9%2C7.9h-31.5c-3.1%2C0-5.9-1.8-7.1-4.6l-26.1-56.4c-0.3-0.7-1-1-1.8-0.9%0A%09%09c-0.7%2C0.2-1.2%2C0.8-1.2%2C1.5v52.4c0%2C4.3-3.5%2C7.9-7.9%2C7.9h-34.2c-4.4%2C0-7.9-3.5-7.9-7.9V7.9c0-4.3%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h30.8%0A%09%09c3.1%2C0%2C5.9%2C1.8%2C7.1%2C4.6l26.8%2C57.9c0.3%2C0.7%2C1.1%2C1%2C1.8%2C0.9c0.7-0.2%2C1.2-0.8%2C1.2-1.5v-54c0-4.3%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h34.2%0A%09%09C1173.3%2C0%2C1176.9%2C3.6%2C1176.9%2C7.9z%20M1153.4%2C14.7c0-1.5-1.2-2.8-2.8-2.8c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8v155.2l-68.4-147.6h-7.3v165.5%0A%09%09c0%2C1.5%2C1.2%2C2.8%2C2.8%2C2.8c1.5%2C0%2C2.8-1.2%2C2.8-2.8V31.7l67.7%2C146.1h8V14.7z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M1330%2C197.7c-1.2%2C1.5-3%2C2.3-4.9%2C2.3h-36.9c-3.7%2C0-7-2.6-7.7-6.3l-3.3-16.1c-0.4-1.8-2-3.2-3.9-3.2h-26.4%0A%09%09c-1.9%2C0-3.5%2C1.3-3.9%2C3.2l-3.1%2C15.9c-0.7%2C3.7-4%2C6.4-7.7%2C6.4h-36.8c-1.9%2C0-3.7-0.8-4.9-2.3c-1.2-1.5-1.7-3.4-1.3-5.2l36.1-186.1%0A%09%09c0.7-3.7%2C4-6.4%2C7.7-6.4h52.4c3.7%2C0%2C7%2C2.6%2C7.7%2C6.3l38%2C186.1C1331.7%2C194.3%2C1331.2%2C196.2%2C1330%2C197.7z%20M1305.6%2C191.5%0A%09%09c0.5-0.6%2C0.7-1.5%2C0.6-2.3l-34.1-166.8h-28.9l-32.3%2C166.9c-0.3%2C1.5%2C0.7%2C2.9%2C2.2%2C3.2c1.5%2C0.3%2C2.9-0.7%2C3.2-2.1l7.4-37.9h69.3l7.8%2C37.9%0A%09%09c0.3%2C1.3%2C1.4%2C2.2%2C2.7%2C2.2C1304.3%2C192.5%2C1305%2C192.1%2C1305.6%2C191.5z%20M1267.5%2C27.9l24.3%2C118.9h-67.1l23.1-118.9H1267.5z%20M1264.5%2C124.5%0A%09%09c0.5%2C0%2C0.9-0.2%2C1.2-0.6c0.3-0.4%2C0.4-0.8%2C0.3-1.3l-4.6-36.7c-0.2-0.7-0.8-1.3-1.6-1.3c-0.8%2C0-1.4%2C0.5-1.5%2C1.3l-4.4%2C36.7%0A%09%09c-0.1%2C0.5%2C0%2C0.9%2C0.3%2C1.3c0.3%2C0.4%2C0.8%2C0.6%2C1.2%2C0.6L1264.5%2C124.5L1264.5%2C124.5z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M1443.9%2C157.9v34.2c0%2C4.3-3.5%2C7.9-7.9%2C7.9h-84.2c-4.4%2C0-7.9-3.5-7.9-7.9V7.9c0-4.4%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h34.2%0A%09%09c4.3%2C0%2C7.9%2C3.5%2C7.9%2C7.9v138.2c0%2C2.2%2C1.8%2C3.9%2C3.9%2C3.9h38.2C1440.3%2C150%2C1443.9%2C153.5%2C1443.9%2C157.9z%20M1432.8%2C175%0A%09%09c0-1.5-1.2-2.8-2.8-2.8h-57.5v-158c0-1.5-1.2-2.8-2.8-2.8c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8v163.6h63.1C1431.6%2C177.8%2C1432.8%2C176.6%2C1432.8%2C175%0A%09%09z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st3%22%20points%3D%22543.5%2C98.3%20550.4%2C79.4%20522.9%2C93.2%20529.8%2C65.7%20516.1%2C72.6%20509.2%2C58.8%20502.3%2C72.6%20488.6%2C65.7%20%0A%09%09495.5%2C93.2%20468%2C79.4%20474.9%2C98.3%20468%2C106.9%20490.6%2C118.2%20485.1%2C134.4%20505.8%2C128.5%20505.8%2C132.8%20505.8%2C141.3%20512.6%2C141.3%20512.6%2C132.8%20%0A%09%09512.6%2C128.5%20533.2%2C134.4%20527.8%2C118.2%20550.4%2C106.9%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
Reasons to be optimistic about the Blue Jays right now
By Henry Wright
Kevin Gausman is really good
If you don’t care for stats, skip this page, there are going to be plenty of them here. At the time of writing this, Kevin Gausman leads the league in chase rate, innings pitched, FIP, home runs per nine, walks per nine, strikeout to walk ratio, pitching WAR, and is near or at the top of MLB for plenty of others. But just saying he’s first feels cheap, so let me give you context for how impressive some of those stats are.
His current FIP (fielding independent pitching, a stat that focuses on the three true outcomes) of 0.87, is unbelievably low. The best single-season FIP in MLB history is held by Christy Mathewson, with a 1.29 in 1908. The second-best in MLB is 1.22 held by Giants starter, Carlos Rodon. His strikeout to walk ratio of 27 is more than double the MLB single-season record of 11.6, held by Phil Hughes in 2014. I assume you can guess where his home runs per nine of 0.0 would rank all time. The point is, Kevin Gausman is really good.
Now, I know these stats are very cherry-picked and are likely unsustainable over the course of a full season, but even so, Kevin Gausman has been more than impressive to start the 2022 season. Filling the shoes of the reigning AL Cy Young winner should be an almost impossible task, but Kevin Gausman has done that and more thus far. If he sustains even 70% of this production, he could be the best pitcher in the league.