Once again, we are one game back of .500. It seems like we have spent much of the season on being one game back of .500. But if we are going to make it back to .500 today, Bowdin Francis is going to have to channel whatever he was doing at the end of last season.

It is hard on my baseball mind to think that our best player has a .238 OBP. Daulton Varsho has 17 hits, 8 of which are home runs, and 13 are extra-base hits.

I’m sure he won’t end the season with a .238 OBP. Right now, his strikeout rate is up from last year (31.0% from 26.7), and his walk rate is down (3.6% from 9.4), but then he’s just back from the IL and missed spring training. Those numbers will improve.

I like him batting cleanup. He will always be a low-average hitter, but we can tolerate a low average when half your hits are home runs.

Yesterday’s bunt single was fun to watch, but if you hit home runs every tenth at bat, I’d rather you swing.

Varsho’s 1.0 bWAR is third on the team behind Vlad and….Tyler Heineman (with just 51 plate appearances). Hopefully, Tyler will be back on the active roster quickly.

Kevin Gausman has had two terrific starts in a row, 15 innings, 8 hits, no walks and 15 strikeouts. That’s following a bad little stretch, so he’s figured things out. He’s not walking people. He has no walks in his last four starts and is getting more swing and miss than he’s had earlier in the season. His whiff rate is up from last year.

It is nice that he gave the bullpen a night off. I thought he could have pitched the ninth, but it was good to get him out of there feeling great about his start. I was a bit worried about Hoffman coming in for the ninth, but three soft fly balls later, and we had a win.

BlueJays.com has a story on Anthony Santander’s hip injury and how it might help his struggles with the bat.

“Unfortunately, I got hurt when I disconnected from my hips,” Santander said. “I pivoted and hyperextended. The positive is that this is going to help me to stay more quiet and try to not hurt myself.”

Disconnecting from your hips sounds bad. I hope he figures things out soon.

I go back and forth on whether the Jays should sign Bo. One of my arguments against is that I’d be glad if he’s out of the way when Arjun Nimmala is ready to join the team, though I’d be ok with moving Bo to second and having Nimmala at short.

But Nimmala’s a few years away, and lots could happen between now and then.

I’m thinking Erik Swanson will be back with the Jays soon. He’s had five rehab outings. The last three have been good: 3 innings, 1 hit, 3 strikeouts and no walks. The Jays could use him with Yimi Garcia on the IL. He is to pitch tonight for the Bisons.

On a personal note, I’m riding in the MS Bike Ride again this year. I would be grateful if you would donate. I’ve raised $3,086, putting me 19th among 452 riders (I’m fortunate to have generous friends). My goal is $3500.

https://msspbike.donordrive.com/participant/56560