Pirates vs Blue Jays: Todays Starting Lineup - Game Preview
Photo credit: https://x.com/BlueJays
The Pittsburgh Pirates take on the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark in Dunedin FLA in the final game of Spring Training. Blue Jays veteran Chris Bassitt is on the bump today versus Pirates starter Bailey Falter. First pitch 1:07 PM ET on Sportsnet.
In his last spring training outing Chris Bassitt gave up two hits and two walks over 4.2 scoreless innings against the Twins. He struck out four.
While he didn't have to deal with any of Minnesota's biggest bats, like Byron Buxton or Royce Lewis, Bassitt had little trouble dispatching the lineup he did face.
The veteran righty built up to 71 pitches (46 strikes) in his longest outing of the spring, and he has a 10:6 K:BB through 9.2 Grapefruit League frames.
Bassitt will be counted on to provide length in the middle of the rotation after posting a 3.86 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 371 innings over his first two campaigns with the Blue Jays.
Bassitt was really good in 2023 posting 200 innings with a 3.60 era and a 2.5 WAR. In 2024 he was below his expectaions posting 171 innings with a 416 era and a 2.2 WAR.
The most important number, both to Bassitt and the Blue Jays, is innings. This is a throwback, but so is Bassitt.
When he touched that 200-inning milestone in his final start of the 2023 season, he called it his «only goal forever» and the benchmark for elite pitchers.
There's nothing complicated about that subtle gap between 2023 and '24 for John Schneider.
«Pitch efficiency,» Schneider said. «We always talk about the number of pitches that he has and I think it's about honing in on three or four of them instead of five or six of them. That, and locating, being efficient. Last year, he fell into a lot of deep counts with foul balls and balls, things like that. He can stay on the attack and that's what we're looking for.»
That's unusual for Bassitt, who tends to live in attack mode. Let them put the ball in play and trust your defenders, especially with one of the best defenses in baseball.
Schneider's on point, though. Last year, Bassitt needed 17.3 pitches per inning, the fourth-most among 58 qualified pitchers in MLB.
The year prior, that number was down at 15.7 per inning, right in the middle of the pack. That extra pitch or two each frame adds up when you're not attacking.
«I got away from that,» Bassitt said. «I was trying to figure out lefties and do too much stuff in the second half of last year. We were tinkering with things and it was a weird part of the year for all of us. It was about figuring stuff out and a lot of it just didn't work. I think me and [pitching coach] Pete [Walker] have a really good plan right now. There's still tinkering, but it's a lot more structured rather than throwing stuff at the wall and hoping it sticks.»
Beyond this, though, Bassitt isn't giving any hints. Sure, Schneider and the Blue Jays might want him to tighten up his endless repertoire of pitches, but the 36-year-old veteran just cracks a smile when he's asked about any chances to his mix. He doesn't want anyone knowing what's coming.
Toronto Blue Jays Starting Lineup
1. Bo Bichette
2. Vladimir Guerrero
3. Anthony Santander
4. Andres Gimenez
5. Tyler Heineman
6. George Springer
7. Will Wagner
8. Ernie Clement
9. Nathan Lukes
SP Chris Bassitt
2. Vladimir Guerrero
3. Anthony Santander
4. Andres Gimenez
5. Tyler Heineman
6. George Springer
7. Will Wagner
8. Ernie Clement
9. Nathan Lukes
SP Chris Bassitt
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MARS 23 | 154 ANSWERS Pirates vs Blue Jays: Todays Starting Lineup - Game Preview Who will win todays matchup between the Pirates and Blue Jays? | ||
| Toronto Blue Jays | 148 | 96.1 % |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 6 | 3.9 % |
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