We begin our monthly review of the Blue Jays’ minor leagues at the top with the Buffalo Bisons, taking a look at how the club is doing, where they stand and who’s hot and who’s not.
April Record
The Bisons sit in last place in the International League North with a 10-13 record in the month of May. Basically, the club has been hovering around the .500 mark and their 5-5 record over their last 10 games is indicative of that. The Bisons are in the middle-to-bottom of the pack in runs scored (83), placing ninth out of 14 teams and are seventh in the league with 82 runs allowed. This almost even run differential (+1) gives them a pythagorean record of 12-11, meaning that they’re underperforming in close games, losing more than they should be.
Leaderboard
Jesus Montero places 10th in batting average in the International League, hitting .322. Domonic Brown is tied for third in home runs with four and tied for second with 16 RBI, and tied for sixth in runs with 13. Matt Dominguez (now with the Blue Jays) is tied for seventh with 14 RBI and Montero is one back with 13. Andy Burns is in third place in the league with seven doubles and Montero has six.
On the pitching side, Scott Diamond has the fourth-most innings (tied) with 28 2/3 and is just out of the top 10 with a WHIP of 1.05. Drew Hutchison is tied for seventh in the IL with 26 strikeouts.
Who’s Hot?
Rotation
Wade LeBlanc – LeBlanc has been the club’s most reliable starter with a 2.22 ERA in 24 1/3 innings, striking out 22 and walking fie.
While Drew Hutchison’s ERA is 3.38, he’s had a strong start in the majors and is among the league leaders in strikeouts at 26 despite pitching in just 21 1/3 innings.
Scott Diamond – the soft-tossing lefty’s strikeout numbers are low but he’s logged 28 2/3 innings with a 2.83 ERA and 1.05 WHIP.
Bullpen
Bobby Korecky has only allowed one earned run but has had a couple of stints on the DL. Despite that, he’s struck out 11 and walked only one in nine innings.
Chad Girodo has 8 2/3 innings with just one run allowed, striking out eight and walking two.
Dustin Antolin has been outstanding, posting a 1.32 ERA over 13 2/3 innings (including a spot start) with 19 strikeouts and seven walks.
Hitters
Matt Dominguez earned his call up to Toronto with a .311/.333/.475 slash line with two homers.
Jesus Montero is right with him with a .322/.341/.460 slash line with six doubles and two home runs.
Who’s Not?
Rotation
Casey Lawrence had three rough starts, getting him sent back to New Hampshire.
Bullpen
Ryan Tepera had a 7.27 ERA in 8 2/3 innings in Buffalo but has still made it back to Toronto.
Ben Rowen hasn’t been fantastic, allowing six runs in 10 1/3 innings with Buffalo.
David Aardsma had one bad outing, giving up four runs in 2/3 of an inning but, as it stands, it’s going to take some time to bring down that 7.36 ERA in 7 1/3 innings.
Hitters
Jiovanni Mier has been the worst everyday player, hitting .158/.238/.175 in 63 plate appearances.
Junior Lake has been bad too, but with a little more power, hitting .263/.234/.267 in 94 plate appearances.
Tony Sanchez is losing time to A.J. Jimenez and while neither is tearing it up, Sanchez’s .152/.243/.212 line is particulalry ugly.
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