No longer is it a question whether Bowden Francis can pitch.
No longer is it an issue whether Francis belongs to be part of the Blue Jays’ 2025 roster.
The question involves what role is best to fully optimize his skills and what moves the franchise ultimately makes this off-season knowing Francis should be an option.
The caveat is the sample size and the quality of opposition Francis has faced in his most recent outings.
In Anaheim, he was stellar.
In Chicago against the Cubs, he was equally superb.
Saturday at Rogers Centre, Francis picked up where he left off on the road in crafting a mound masterpiece, coming within three outs of a no-hitter.
His bid ended on the first batter he faced in the ninth as the Angels recorded their first and only hit, a home run no less, as the Blue Jays won, 3-1.
As good as he pitched on the road in going seven complete innings, Saturday’s outing was his finest.
Through seven innings, Francis was spinning a no-hitter.
Just before he took to the mound in the eighth inning, a light rain forced a few of the announced crowd of 34,011 to scurry for the concourse level, a curious exercise given it wasn’t raining that badly.
Through seven innings, Francis had struck out 12, while walking three as his pitch count reached 97.
In the eighth, he induced a shallow fly ball into left field for the inning’s first out.
One-time Blue Jay Brandon Drury flew out for the second out.
The crowd finally took notice of what was unfolding and cheered when Francis faced Niko Kavadas, the Angels’ No. 9 hitter.
He, too, flew out.
The anticipation of watching a no-hitter increased.
At the same time, Toronto’s two-run lead wasn’t exactly out of reach.
It increased to three when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. turned on a pitch and drilled in over the wall in centre field for his 27th homer of the season.
Suddenly, Francis had some much-needed cushion.
At worst, he was provided some margin for error and no excuse for the Blue Jays not to let him pitch in the ninth inning.
Once the Jays finished their at-bats in the eighth inning, the crowd fully embraced what potentially awaited.
When Francis emerged from the dugout, the roar from the crowd ramped up.
The ninth began with Angels leadoff hitter Taylor Ward at the plate.
The count went full and then came a blow that sent Francis to the dugout after Ward went deep into left-centre.
Daulton Varsho tried to make a play on the ball, but he had no chance and neither did anyone else for that matter unless they had the benefit of using a fork lift.
With the no-hitter no longer possible, Francis tried to soak in the atmosphere as fans gave him a much-deserved standing ovation.
Just before he stepped into the dugout, Francis acknowledged the crowd.
Close but no cigar, but in the end his outing only reinforced the work Francis has put in and the results that followed.
Kevin Gausman pitched a complete game shutout in Oakland.
Other moments of high-end pitching from Toronto’s staff has been achieved, but it would be hard-pressed for any to match what Francis accomplished Saturday.
By the way, the win was Toronto’s sixth in a row over the Angels, who are in danger of being swept for the second time by the Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon.
Once Francis was lifted, Chad Green was asked to seal the deal, which he did.
As for Francis, he threw 117 pitches, including 84 for strikes.
Recently named player of the week in the wake of his starts in SoCal and the Windy City, Francis has now won three in a row and only looks to be getting better.
Once Sunday’s matinee against the Angels wraps up, the Jays’ competition will get better.
Maybe then a better analysis of Francis will be available.
For now, it’s pretty hard to complain about anything based on how well Francis has pitched.
The Jays gave their starter an early 2-0 lead when two runs would be scored in the bottom of the first inning.
Oddly enough, it began when Ernie Clement, thrust into the role of leadoff, struck out.
Clement has been on a tear of late and even recorded a home run in three straight games, including a ball he hit at eye level that resonated throughout baseball.
Against Angels starter Carson Fulmer, the Jays recorded three hits and scored two runs in the home half of the first inning.
Joey Loperfido just missed another home run by inches after he sent a rocket that hit the wall in right centre.
For much of his days as a Blue Jay, the athletic Loperfido was known for striking out at an alarming rate.
He went deep to tie the game in the ninth inning of Friday night’s comeback win and nearly hit his second dinger in as many at-bats.
After getting the night off Friday, Vlad Jr. was back starting at first base for the first time in three games and back hitting in the No. 3 hole.
Fans didn’t appreciate an intentional walk issued to Vlad Jr., but then again Angels manager Ron Washington made the right call in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Vlad Jr.’s eighth-inning bomb merely reinforced Washington’s decision.
Toronto’s order had Spencer Horwitz at cleanup followed by Loperfido with Leo Jimenez moving up to the No. 6 hole.
The bottom of the order featured Addison Barger, who hit the walk-off homer Friday to give Toronto its 5-4 victory, the struggling Davis Schneider hitting eighth with Brian Server, who started behind home plate, in the No. 9 hole.
Once the Jays put up two runs in the first, their offence experienced a drought.
It didn’t help when Horwitz was thrown out at home plate.
The afternoon belonged to Francis, who struck out Logan O’Hoppe to end the seventh inning.