Game of the Week: April 7: TOR @ PHI
Jan 17, 2021 17:34:32 GMT -5
Grubs - Philly and sfdave like this
Post by Commissioner Erick on Jan 17, 2021 17:34:32 GMT -5
Toronto Blue Jays (6-4) @ Philadelphia Phillies (5-5)
TOR: T.J. Zeuch (1-0, 1.20)
PHI: Franklyn Kilome (2-0, 0.00)
Frankyn Kilome has developed into one of the top pitchers in the National League. In 2023, he led the National League with a 20-3 record and a 2.62 ERA, with 29.2 postseason innings without an earned run added on. Last year, Kilome went 17-7 with a 3.12 ERA, but he increased his WAR from 4.7 to 4.8. This year, Kilome has worked 15.1 scoreless innings with 21 strikeouts.
Kilome continues to build himself into one of the best pitchers in the National League, but for today’s Game of the Week, he’ll have a tough challenge: One of the best offenses in the American League.
Kilome and the Philadelphia Phillies host the defending champion Toronto Blue Jays in the Game of the Week.
Scouts don’t think that Kilome has the absolute best arsenal, but a tireless worker and a bulldog on the mound, Kilome has always maximized his skills. Against two overmatched offenses to begin 2025, he dazzled the Miami Marlins and the New York Mets and struck out 21 hitters against two walks without a run. Tonight, he’ll take on a step up in competition, the defending champion Toronto Blue Jays.
Toronto won the title last year, and their offense, despite losing Jake Burger, has picked up where they left off. They’ve scored 60 runs through 10 games, second in the American League. Fueled by that offense, Toronto is a strong 6-4, though three of their losses have come by a single run. Not everything has clicked offensively, but Toronto once again looks like a team to beat.
Offensively, Eric Drouet has taken a leap and continues to be an elite hitter at the top of an order. He hasn’t struck out yet as his preternaturally quick wrists allow him to make contact with anything thrown his way. There’s a reason he’s nicknamed Rattlesnake and he he’s hitting .391 with four steals, wreaking havoc on top of Toronto’s lineup.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has also exploded atop the Toronto lineup. Guerrero has six home runs in the early going, third only to Arturo Reineri and Joe DeCarlo in the American League. With players like Drouet getting on base ahead of him, Guerrero also has 15 RBIs, which leads the league. He’s picked up from his massive 2024 playoff run, and looks like an early MVP candidate.
Toronto has also gotten production from an unexpected source. Rookie Juan Rivera debuted last week with Jake Burger going on the IL with a separated shoulder. Just 22-years-old, Rivera responded to PBA pitching with a .440 week with three home runs and 7 RBIs. It’s not even the most impressive performance by a Blue Jays Rookie, as Federico Pando, a Top-100 prospect since being signed out of the Dominican Republic for $5 million in July 2019, is hitting .342 with three home runs, seven RBIs, and 10 runs scored in the early going.
These performances are making up for the fact that some Blue Jays have struggled, namely Gary Sanchez. After a two-home-run debut, Sanchez has just one RBI in his last nine games, and is batting 3-38 during that span. Sanchez has started every game behind the plate, and may need a day off to rest his body and clear his head.
Toronto may be able to survive his loss, as they’ll throw T.J. Zeuch to the mound to counter Philadelphia. Zeuch didn’t have the best postseason last year, and the former Toronto ace had appeared to take a step back in the minds of some analysts the last few years. He’s been outstanding to begin 2025 though, allowing a single hit to Boston over 8 innings in Toronto’s opener, before shutting down a lively Reds attack to the tune of two runs over 7 innings his last time out. Zeuch’s command is as sharp as ever, but he’s allowed some long balls the past two seasons. If he keeps Philadelphia’s sluggers in the yard, Toronto may not need to rely on its offense to win this heavyweight battle.
Questions for the GMs:
For Mike Leitao, Gary Sanchez appears to be worn down a little bit. Will we see him behind the dish today?
Federico Pando has been outstanding in his debut, but Juan Rivera has been as well. It’s still early, but when Jake Burger heals up, does either of them have an inside track to remain the ninth hitter in the lineup?
Danny Richardson was a former 30th round draft pick. He has seven strikeouts and has allowed a single hit in his first 3.2 career innings. How has Richardson been able to develop into such a phenom?
For Matt Grubs, you’re facing the defending champion Blue Jays today. What do you think will be the main key to pulling out a win?
Jake Fraley is hitting just .188, and your club is a bit of a disappointing 5-5. How long can you keep Stud Morales in the minors?
Jo Lon was a key member of your pen the past two seasons, but he’s beginning 2025 in Triple-A. Why is he not with the big club to begin the year?
TRIVIA: Which Catcher has the most postseason RBIs in PBA history?
TOR: T.J. Zeuch (1-0, 1.20)
PHI: Franklyn Kilome (2-0, 0.00)
Frankyn Kilome has developed into one of the top pitchers in the National League. In 2023, he led the National League with a 20-3 record and a 2.62 ERA, with 29.2 postseason innings without an earned run added on. Last year, Kilome went 17-7 with a 3.12 ERA, but he increased his WAR from 4.7 to 4.8. This year, Kilome has worked 15.1 scoreless innings with 21 strikeouts.
Kilome continues to build himself into one of the best pitchers in the National League, but for today’s Game of the Week, he’ll have a tough challenge: One of the best offenses in the American League.
Kilome and the Philadelphia Phillies host the defending champion Toronto Blue Jays in the Game of the Week.
Scouts don’t think that Kilome has the absolute best arsenal, but a tireless worker and a bulldog on the mound, Kilome has always maximized his skills. Against two overmatched offenses to begin 2025, he dazzled the Miami Marlins and the New York Mets and struck out 21 hitters against two walks without a run. Tonight, he’ll take on a step up in competition, the defending champion Toronto Blue Jays.
Toronto won the title last year, and their offense, despite losing Jake Burger, has picked up where they left off. They’ve scored 60 runs through 10 games, second in the American League. Fueled by that offense, Toronto is a strong 6-4, though three of their losses have come by a single run. Not everything has clicked offensively, but Toronto once again looks like a team to beat.
Offensively, Eric Drouet has taken a leap and continues to be an elite hitter at the top of an order. He hasn’t struck out yet as his preternaturally quick wrists allow him to make contact with anything thrown his way. There’s a reason he’s nicknamed Rattlesnake and he he’s hitting .391 with four steals, wreaking havoc on top of Toronto’s lineup.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has also exploded atop the Toronto lineup. Guerrero has six home runs in the early going, third only to Arturo Reineri and Joe DeCarlo in the American League. With players like Drouet getting on base ahead of him, Guerrero also has 15 RBIs, which leads the league. He’s picked up from his massive 2024 playoff run, and looks like an early MVP candidate.
Toronto has also gotten production from an unexpected source. Rookie Juan Rivera debuted last week with Jake Burger going on the IL with a separated shoulder. Just 22-years-old, Rivera responded to PBA pitching with a .440 week with three home runs and 7 RBIs. It’s not even the most impressive performance by a Blue Jays Rookie, as Federico Pando, a Top-100 prospect since being signed out of the Dominican Republic for $5 million in July 2019, is hitting .342 with three home runs, seven RBIs, and 10 runs scored in the early going.
These performances are making up for the fact that some Blue Jays have struggled, namely Gary Sanchez. After a two-home-run debut, Sanchez has just one RBI in his last nine games, and is batting 3-38 during that span. Sanchez has started every game behind the plate, and may need a day off to rest his body and clear his head.
Toronto may be able to survive his loss, as they’ll throw T.J. Zeuch to the mound to counter Philadelphia. Zeuch didn’t have the best postseason last year, and the former Toronto ace had appeared to take a step back in the minds of some analysts the last few years. He’s been outstanding to begin 2025 though, allowing a single hit to Boston over 8 innings in Toronto’s opener, before shutting down a lively Reds attack to the tune of two runs over 7 innings his last time out. Zeuch’s command is as sharp as ever, but he’s allowed some long balls the past two seasons. If he keeps Philadelphia’s sluggers in the yard, Toronto may not need to rely on its offense to win this heavyweight battle.
Questions for the GMs:
For Mike Leitao, Gary Sanchez appears to be worn down a little bit. Will we see him behind the dish today?
Federico Pando has been outstanding in his debut, but Juan Rivera has been as well. It’s still early, but when Jake Burger heals up, does either of them have an inside track to remain the ninth hitter in the lineup?
Danny Richardson was a former 30th round draft pick. He has seven strikeouts and has allowed a single hit in his first 3.2 career innings. How has Richardson been able to develop into such a phenom?
For Matt Grubs, you’re facing the defending champion Blue Jays today. What do you think will be the main key to pulling out a win?
Jake Fraley is hitting just .188, and your club is a bit of a disappointing 5-5. How long can you keep Stud Morales in the minors?
Jo Lon was a key member of your pen the past two seasons, but he’s beginning 2025 in Triple-A. Why is he not with the big club to begin the year?
TRIVIA: Which Catcher has the most postseason RBIs in PBA history?
