Bowden Francis

Fantasy News

• Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Works in relief of Rodriguez

  Rotowire Jun 25, 2024

  Francis tossed 3.2 innings out of the bullpen in Friday's 7-1 loss to the Guardians, giving up two unearned runs on two hits and two walks while striking out four. Francis has now made each of his last three appearances out of the bullpen, but he's been utilized as a bulk reliever on two of those occasions. Heading into Friday's game, the Blue Jays likely didn't plan on using Francis quite as heavily, but he was pressed into extended action after starter Yariel Rodriguez gave up five runs (four earned) while recording just four outs in his return to the rotation following a seven-week stay on the injured list. Before Rodriguez landed on the shelf in late April, he and Francis had been deployed as tandem starters, and it's possible that manager John Schneider could proceed with that arrangement when Rodriguez's next turn through the rotation comes up Wednesday in Boston. Considering Rodriguez built up to four innings and 79 pitches during his rehab assignment prior to coming off the IL, he should be expected to work deeper into Wednesday's game than he did Friday.

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• Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Nabs win as bulk reliever

  Rotowire Jun 15, 2024

  Francis (3-2) picked up the win Saturday, allowing four hits over four scoreless relief innings in a 5-0 victory over the Guardians. He struck out two without walking a batter. The right-hander was the fourth Toronto pitcher into the game, but he handled the bulk-relief role with aplomb, firing 44 of 68 pitches for strikes. Francis has tossed eight scoreless innings over his last two appearances, but with Yariel Rodriguez (back) close to coming off the 15-day injured list, Francis likely won't be in line for a full-time appointment to the rotation. Since a tough beginning to the season as a starter, Francis has posted a 3.06 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 12:4 K:BB through 17.2 innings over his last six outings sandwiched around an IL stint of his own due to forearm tendinitis.

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• Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Likely to pitch Saturday

  Rotowire Jun 14, 2024

  Francis is a candidate to start or serve in a bulk relief role Saturday against the Guardians, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports. The Blue Jays are declining to name a starter at this point, but Francis is likely to be their primary pitcher, whether it's as a traditional starter or a bulk reliever. Francis went four scoreless innings in a start his last time out but holds a 7.36 ERA over seven appearances (three starts) this season.

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• Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Starting Sunday

  Rotowire Jun 8, 2024

  Francis will start Sunday's game against the Athletics, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports. Francis will make his first start since being activated from the 15-day IL on Tuesday. The 28-year-old surrendered four runs and tossed 57 pitches in long relief Tuesday and has yielded 12 runs over 8.1 innings during his only two starts this season. However, he'll have the luxury of facing an Athletics lineup that is scoring just 3.6 runs per game in 2024.

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• Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Activated from injured list

  Rotowire Jun 4, 2024

  The Blue Jays activated Francis (forearm) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports. Francis is in line for bulk-relief duties in Tuesday's game against the Orioles, following opener Trevor Richards. The right-hander has been out since late April with forearm tendinitis, having posted a 8.59 ERA and 17:7 K:BB in 14.2 innings across two starts and three relief appearances before being sidelined.

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• Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Sharp in latest rehab outing

  Rotowire May 31, 2024

  Francis (forearm) struck out five over 3.2 innings in a rehab outing with Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday. He gave up one unearned run on one hit and one walk. Francis made what was likely the fourth and final appearance of his rehab assignment and should be ready to return from the 15-day injured list this weekend. Shortly before he was shelved with right forearm extensor tendinitis in late April, Francis had been working out of the bullpen as a tandem starter with Yariel Rodriguez (back), but with Rodriguez joining Francis on the IL soon thereafter, Alek Manoah got a chance to reclaim the No. 5 spot in the rotation. Manoah exited his latest start Wednesday with right elbow discomfort, and if he ends up requiring an IL stint of his own, Francis could re-emerge as a rotation option in his return to the Blue Jays.

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• Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: One more rehab appearance

  Rotowire May 27, 2024

  Francis (forearm) will make what's expected to be his final rehab appearance with Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports. Francis has pitched well in his first three rehab outings, yielding three runs (two earned) with a 6:1 K:BB over 6.2 frames. He should be slated for a long-relief job once he's activated.

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• Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Could be back this weekend

  Rotowire May 21, 2024

  Francis (forearm) will throw about 45 pitches for Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday in what's expected to be his final rehab appearance, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports. The 28-year-old right-hander has looked sharp in his first two rehab outings, throwing 4.1 scoreless innings while allowing just two hits with a 5:1 K:BB. Francis began the season in the Blue Jays rotation, but he should fill a long-relief role in the big-league bullpen when he returns.

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• Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Another rehab outing on tap

  Rotowire May 17, 2024

  Francis (forearm) is scheduled to make a rehab appearance with Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports. Francis covered two scoreless innings for Buffalo in his first rehab appearance Tuesday. The 28-year-old righty-hander will likely fill a long-relief role upon his return, so he could be deemed ready for activation following Saturday's outing.

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• Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Looks good in rehab outing

  Rotowire May 15, 2024

  Francis (forearm) struck out four batters and allowed only one hit over two scoreless innings Tuesday in a rehab appearance for Triple-A Buffalo. The right-hander was shut down in late April due to forearm tendinitis, but Francis' sharp rehab outing suggests he's just about ready to rejoin the big-league staff. Alek Manoah is coming off a strong start as the fifth starter, so Francis will likely be ticketed for long relief when he returns. After a couple rough outings in the rotation to begin the season, Francis has 2.84 ERA and 5:3 K:BB in 6.1 relief innings for the Blue Jays.

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• Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Shelved with forearm injury

  Rotowire Apr 25, 2024

  The Blue Jays placed Francis on the 15-day injured list Thursday with right forearm extensor tendinitis. Since making his last start April 7, Francis has made his subsequent three appearances as a piggyback reliever behind starter Yariel Rodriguez. Francis scooped up wins in 2.1- and two-inning outings April 13 and 19, but he didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Royals after tossing two scoreless frames once Rodriguez exited the contest. Though he didn't appear to be nursing any sort of injury during the relief outing, Francis was apparently diagnosed with the forearm issue when he was evaluated afterward. He won't be eligible to rejoin Toronto until May 10 after landing on the IL.

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• Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Collects win in relief

  Rotowire Apr 20, 2024

  Francis (2-2) picked up the win Friday against the Padres, allowing one hit and one walk over two scoreless relief innings. He struck out two. After a brutal start to the season in the rotation, Francis has looked much more comfortable back in a long-relief role and has been credited with wins in back-to-back appearances while piggybacking with Yariel Rodriguez. Francis still carries an awful 9.95 ERA and 1.82 WHIP through 12.2 innings, but his 17:7 K:BB highlights his potential if he can get his control and command issues sorted out.

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• Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Cruises through six innings

  Rotowire Mar 14, 2024

  Francis kept rolling Thursday in his Grapefruit League outing versus the Twins, yielding just one unearned run over six innings. He struck out two. The Twins plated a single run in the third inning following an Eduardo Escobar error, but that's the only tally they managed on the day. Francis needed only 67 pitches to get through his six frames, permitting just four singles and no walks. The right-hander lowered his spring ERA to 1.93, and he holds a 12:2 K:BB over 14 innings. With Alek Manoah (shoulder) all but certain to open the season on the injured list, Francis appears close to locking up the fifth spot in Toronto's rotation, if he hasn't done so already.

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• Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Fans five in Thursday's start

  Rotowire Mar 8, 2024

  Francis gave up one run on three hits and a walk over 3.2 innings while striking out five in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers. The 27-year-old right-hander appears to be in the driver's seat for the Blue Jays' fifth starter role, with Alek Manoah (shoulder) looking increasingly doubtful for Opening Day. Francis faced a Detroit lineup that included most of its likely regulars and struggled early, plunking Mark Canha with the bases loaded in the first inning to bring home Parker Meadows. He settled down after coaxing a double play out of Carson Kelly to escape the frame, however, eventually leaving the mound having thrown 55 pitches (37 strikes). Through eight innings this spring, Francis has a 10:2 K:BB and hasn't given up a homer.

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• Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Could open season in rotation

  Rotowire Mar 2, 2024

  Francis could be the favorite to step into the fifth starter role for the Blue Jays if Alek Manoah (shoulder) isn't ready for Opening Day, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports. Manoah was viewed as the likely No. 5 starter despite his 2023 struggles, but a poor start to the spring and a bout of shoulder soreness could force the Jays to re-evaluate. Francis posted strong numbers over 20 relief appearances last season and was mainly a starting pitcher in the minors, but it's not yet clear if his stuff will hold up over longer outings against big-league hitters. Should Francis also falter in camp, it could open the door for Mitch White or even top prospect Ricky Tiedemann (hamstring) to begin the campaign in the rotation.

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• Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Being built up as starter

  Rotowire Feb 15, 2024

  The Blue Jays are building up Francis to serve as a starter, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports. The vast majority of Francis' minor-league appearances have come as a starter, though he has yet to begin a game on the mound through 21 MLB appearances. Francis holds an impressive 1.70 ERA and 0.84 WHIP through 37 career big-league frames, but even if he has a solid spring as a starter, he would need some attrition ahead of him to earn a spot at the back of Toronto's rotation.

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• Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Optioned to Triple-A

  Rotowire Sep 15, 2023

  Francis was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Friday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports. This is all about adding a fresh arm to the Blue Jays bullpen after Francis pitched the last two days. His performance certainly didn't warrant a demotion, as he's posted a 1.73 ERA in 20 appearances this season.

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• Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Optioned to Buffalo

  Rotowire Aug 1, 2023

  The Blue Jays optioned Francis to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday. With Hyun Jin Ryu (elbow) returning from the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Francis will head back to the minors to clear a spot on Toronto's roster. The 27-year-old righty has been impressive this season to the tune of a 2.30 ERA and 1.02 WHIP through 15.2 innings out of the bullpen and has a very good chance at returning to the Jays later this summer.

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• Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Collects first big-league win

  Rotowire Jun 29, 2023

  Francis (1-0) was credited with the win in Wednesday's 6-1 victory over the Giants, allowing one run on four hits over four innings. He struck out two without walking a batter. The 27-year-old rookie took the mound in the fourth inning with the Jays ahead 5-0, after Trevor Richards had spun three shutout frames, and aside from an Austin Slater solo shot, Francis was effective over 47 pitches (32 strikes) en route to his first career win in the majors. The right-hander has worked multiple innings in four of his five MLB appearances, often serving as the back half of a tandem with Richards, and Francis has delivered a 2.92 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 10:4 K:BB through 12.1 innings. The role does afford him some fantasy upside as a source of further wins, but he's already been optioned back to Triple-A Buffalo twice since making his season debut in early June as Toronto juggles its pitching staff while trying to cover the fifth spot in its rotation.

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• Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Back in Toronto

  Rotowire Jun 24, 2023

  The Blue Jays recalled Francis from Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday. With Adam Cimber (shoulder) landing on the 15-day IL on Saturday, Francis will come up from the minors to take Cimber's spot in Toronto's bullpen. The 27-year-old righty has appeared in three games for the Jays this season, surrendering three earned runs over 7.1 frames while striking out seven batters.

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