Blue Jays vs. Orioles suspended 0-0 on July 28. While Chris Bassitt was sharp, Bowden Francis hit the IL. See why the day was a win for the future.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Well, that was a wash. Monday's series opener against the Orioles barely got started before the skies opened up over Camden Yards, forcing a suspension after two scoreless frames. But while the big-league action was put on hold, the day was anything but quiet for the Blue Jays organization, which saw a glimpse of its bright future and made some tough decisions about its present.
Bowden Francis's tough 2025 season (6.05 ERA, 19 HR allowed) officially ends with a move to the 60-day IL.
The much-anticipated series opener against the AL East rival Orioles ended before it ever really began. After two complete innings with the score knotted at 0-0, the umpires called for the tarps, and the game was officially suspended. Starter Chris Bassitt was ruthlessly efficient in his brief outing, needing just 12 pitches to get through his one inning of work. The game will be resumed tomorrow, setting the stage for a straight doubleheader at Camden Yards. Get ready for a long day of baseball.
While the major league club waited out the rain, there was cause for celebration within the organization. The FCL Blue Jays, Toronto's rookie-level affiliate, defeated the FCL Twins to clinch the Florida Complex League Championship! This is a fantastic achievement for the team's youngest prospects and a testament to the club's player development pipeline. On a day filled with frustrating non-starts and difficult roster news, this win serves as a powerful reminder of the talent brewing in the system.
The front office was busy ahead of the (brief) game in Baltimore. Infielder Will Wagner was reinstated from the restricted list, adding a fresh bat to the bench. To make room, outfielder Alan Roden was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo. Roden struggled to find his footing in the bigs, hitting just .204 in 43 games, and will look to get his timing back in Buffalo. In a more significant move, the tough season for starter Bowden Francis has officially come to an end. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement after a year where he posted a 6.05 ERA and surrendered 19 home runs in 14 starts. The move opens a 40-man roster spot and gives Francis an extended timeline to get healthy for 2026.
With the rain clouds hopefully parting, the Jays now face a crucial doubleheader against the Orioles. It's a test of pitching depth and offensive grit—two things the front office is clearly trying to fine-tune with its latest roster moves. While today's championship win in the FCL provides a welcome dose of optimism for the future, the focus now shifts squarely back to the present and a massive twin bill in Baltimore.
