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Bowden Francis faces challenges against Orioles in his return to Blue Jays
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    Bowden Francis faces challenges against Orioles in his return to Blue Jays

    In his first MLB appearance since April 24, Bowden Francis just didn’t quite have his best stuff.

    The 28-year-old righty was tasked with being the “bulk guy” out of the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen against a powerful Baltimore Orioles lineup.

    After Trevor Richards served as the opener, working two scoreless innings, Genesis Cabrera was the first reliever John Schneider called upon, but couldn’t get through the inning.

    So Francis entered the game in the third with two outs, runners on first and third and Ryan Mountcastle at the plate.

    Mountcastle, perhaps the most notorious Blue Jays killer in MLB, welcomed Francis back to the big leagues by lining a curveball that got too much of the plate over the wall in left, giving Baltimore a 4-0 lead.

    Francis got the next out of the inning, but wasn’t able to keep the Orioles off the scoreboard from there.

    While he worked a scoreless fourth, Mountcastle was lurking in the fifth. Francis allowed a one-out double to Gunnar Henderson and an RBI single to Adley Rutschman before Mountcastle hit a ball off the West Jet Flight Deck at Rogers Centre. The pitch was a fastball at the top of the zone that the Orioles first baseman hit 443 feet to centre — his longest home run of the season.

    With the Blue Jays needing some length from their bullpen, Francis worked a scoreless sixth before being replaced by Zach Pop.

    When all was said and done Tuesday night, Francis threw 57 pitches, 40 strikes, over 3.1 innings, allowing five hits, four runs and no walks while striking out two.

    The six-foot-five Francis now has a 9.00 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 18 innings this season. Before he went on the injured list with right forearm extensor tendinitis, he had worked two straight scoreless outings out of the bullpen.

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    After being traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 2020, pitcher Bowden Francis is now facing his former team, the Toronto Blue Jays, in his return to the Rogers Centre. The 25-year-old right-hander will have his work cut out for him as he tries to navigate the potent Blue Jays lineup.

    Francis, who was originally drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2017, made his MLB debut with the Orioles earlier this season. In his limited time with Baltimore, he showed flashes of potential but also struggled with consistency, posting a 6.75 ERA in 16 innings pitched.

    Now, facing his former team in a high-stakes series, Francis will need to bring his A-game to compete against a Blue Jays lineup that features some of the best hitters in the league. With sluggers like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and George Springer leading the charge, Francis will need to be on top of his game to keep the Blue Jays offense in check.

    One of the biggest challenges Francis will face is controlling his command on the mound. In his brief stint with the Orioles, he struggled with walks and giving up home runs, which could be a recipe for disaster against a powerful Blue Jays lineup. If Francis can locate his pitches and keep the ball down in the zone, he may have a chance to keep the Blue Jays hitters off balance.

    Another key factor for Francis will be his ability to pitch deep into the game. With a bullpen that has been overworked in recent weeks, the Orioles will need Francis to eat up innings and give their relievers a much-needed break. If he can pitch effectively and efficiently, it will give the Orioles a better chance to win the series against the Blue Jays.

    Overall, Bowden Francis faces a tough challenge in his return to the Blue Jays, but with the right mindset and execution on the mound, he has the potential to make a positive impact for the Orioles. As he faces his former team for the first time, all eyes will be on Francis as he looks to prove himself against one of the best offenses in baseball.