According to Rogers Sportsnet on Tuesday, Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Bowden Francis has been named the American League Pitcher of the Month. Francis pitched in six games, and had a record of four wins and one loss, with an earned run average of 1.05. In 34 1/3 innings pitched, Francis gave up 10 hits, four earned runs, three home runs and four walks, to go along with 39 strikeouts and a miraculous WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) of 0.41.
Francis won his last four starts in August. He only gave up one earned run in seven innings in a 4-2 Blue Jays win over the Los Angeles Angels on August 12, zero earned runs in seven innings in a 1-0 Blue Jays win over the Chicago Cubs on August 18, one earned run in eight innings in a 3-1 Blue Jays win over the Angels on August 24, and zero earned runs in seven innings in a 2-0 Blue Jays win over the Boston Red Sox on August 29. In the Blue Jays win over the Angels on August 24, Francis had a career high 12 strikeouts. In this game Francis pitched eight innings of no-hit baseball.
In 2024, Francis had a record of eight wins and three losses with an earned run average of 3.66. In 23 games and 78 2/3 innings pitched, he gave up 59 hits, 32 earned runs, 13 home runs and 19 walks, to go along with 75 strikeouts and a WHIP of 0.99.
