YUSEI KIKUCHI NEWS

Angels and Blue Jays meet to decide series winner

The Los Angeles Angels and Toronto Blue Jays play on Sunday with the three-game series tied 1-1

APRIL 9, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Yusei Kikuchi pitches with purpose, ends rut from Blue Jays rotation in win It was a win the Blue Jays badly wanted. It all began with Kikuchi pitching with his purpose.

APRIL 5, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Picks up win in season debut Kikuchi (1-0) earned the win Tuesday at Kansas City after he allowed one run on three hits across five innings. He had two strikeouts and one walk.

Impact The left-hander showed strong command in his season debut, throwing 47 of his 69 pitches for strikes. The improved control is a welcome sign after Kikuchi posted a 5.2 BB/9 last year, which helped lead to his move from the rotation to the bullpen. One outing is hardly a trend, and the 31-year-old will attempt to replicate his strong debut next time out Sunday against the Angels.

APRIL 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Yusei Kikuchi's strong start gets Blue Jays back on track against Royals The Blue Jays got a strong performance from starter Yusei Kikuchi to beat the Kansas City Royals and end their three-game losing streak.

APRIL 5, 2023 • TORONTOSUN.COM

Toronto ends 3-game skid in Whit Merrifield's return to KC

Yusei Kikuchi and four relievers limited Kansas City to one run on four hits and the Toronto Blue Jays snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the Royals

APRIL 5, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Blue Jays needed a good start and Yusei Kikuchi delivered With the Blue Jays entering Tuesday's contest with a 1-3 record, Toron...

APRIL 5, 2023 • BLUEJAYSNATION.COM

Blue Jays aim to end losing streak in matchup with the Royals

The Toronto Blue Jays look to end a three-game losing streak with a win over the Kansas City Royals

APRIL 4, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Yusei Kikuchi strikes out six | 03/28/2023 Yusei Kikuchi strikes out six Phillies in 2 2/3 perfect innings of relief, bringing his Spring Training ERA down to 0.87

MARCH 28, 2023 • MLB.COM

Kikuchi strong again as Jays lose Grapefruit League finale to Phillies CLEARWATER, Fla. - Yusei Kikuchi put in one last strong pitching performance this spring as the Toronto Blue Jays ended their Grapefruit Lea...

MARCH 28, 2023 • THESTAR.COM

Yusei Kikuchi finished off his excellent Spring Training by striking out six of the eight batters he faced No matter what happens next, this year's Grapefruit League play will a...

MARCH 28, 2023 • BLUEJAYSNATION.COM

Yusei Kikuchi claims Jays fifth starter job 'by far' Over 18 innings, Kikuchi has posted a 1.00 ERA with 25 strikeouts. Alek Manoah goes six-plus in final test before opener.

MARCH 25, 2023 • THESTAR.COM

Yusei Kikuchi fans nine | 03/23/2023 Yusei Kikuchi strikes out nine batters across five innings of work against the Twins in Spring Training

MARCH 23, 2023 • MLB.COM

Kikuchi (9 strikeouts) full-speed ahead as season looms FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Yusei Kikuchi entered Spring Training singularly focused on rejoining the Blue Jays’ rotation, and he has done such a go...

MARCH 23, 2023 • MLB.COM

Expected to have rotation spot Kikuchi is slated to open the season in the Blue Jays' starting rotation, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Impact Kikuchi enjoyed his best start of the Grapefruit League schedule Thursday against the Twins, striking out nine batters over five scoreless innings. That put him at 25 strikeouts in 18 innings on the spring, though he has also issued 10 walks. It's difficult to expect much consistency from the 31-year-old left-hander leading into the 2023 campaign after his rough showing in 2022. Mitch White (shoulder) could eventually be an option to unseat him in that No. 5 rotation spot.

MARCH 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Struggles to find plate Friday Kikuchi gave up two runs on one hit and three walks over 3.1 innings in Friday's split-squad game against the Phillies. He struck out three.

Impact The southpaw got stretched out to 76 pitches, but only 46 of them went for strikes. Kikuchi looked good early in camp but his control has begun to desert him again with Opening Day growing closer, and he now has a 16:9 K:BB through 13 spring innings despite a superficially strong 1.38 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. The 31-year-old has a career 5.02 ERA and 3.67 BB/9 since coming to MLB in 2019, and there's been no real sign this spring he's going to be any more reliable in 2023.

MARCH 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Yusei Kikuchi K's Scott Kingery | 03/17/2023 Yusei Kikuchi strikes out Scott Kingery swinging to close out the top of the 3rd inning in his outing against the Phillies

MARCH 17, 2023 • MLB.COM

Control wavers Sunday Kikuchi allowed four hits and three walks over 2.2 scoreless innings while striking out four in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.

Impact The southpaw ended up throwing 61 pitches (38 strikes) to get just eight outs, even if four of them did come via strikeout. Kikuchi remains the favorite to break camp with the No. 5 spot in the Blue Jays' rotation, and while he has yet to allow a run through four spring starts, his 13:6 K:BB in 9.2 innings is a reminder of both his tantalizing upside, and his erratic career in MLB to date.

MARCH 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Yusei Kikuchi K's Bryan Reynolds | 03/07/2023 Yusei Kikuchi gets Bryan Reynolds to strike out swinging, ending the bottom of the 3rd inning

MARCH 7, 2023 • MLB.COM

The Yusei Kikuchi resurgence continues, Daulton Varsho keeps impressing in the outfield, and more as the Blue Jays fall 7-2 to the Pittsburgh Pirates After two straight Blue Jays blowouts,...

MARCH 7, 2023 • BLUEJAYSNATION.COM

Another sharp outing Kikuchi walked one and struck out two over two scoreless, no-hit innings in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles.

Impact The southpaw has gotten his spring off to a quick start as he looks to secure the fifth starter role for the Blue Jays, tossing four scoreless innings in two starts with seven strikeouts and only one free pass. Kikuchi has struggled during his four years in MLB after a strong career in Japan, but he still has quality stuff and Toronto believes he can follow in the footsteps of the likes of Robbie Ray as a successful reclamation project for pitching coach Pete Walker.

MARCH 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Might benefit from pitch clock Kikuchi seemed more focused on the mound during his spring debut Saturday against the Pirates, a change that may have been prompted by MLB's new pitch clock, Kaitlyn McGrath of The...

Impact The 31-year-old left-hander has had a very up-and-down MLB career so far, posting an ERA under 5.00 only once in four seasons, but Kikuchi's arm talent has never been in question. Being forced to work more quickly could prove to be a boon for him, as he won't be able to overthink things and will simply have to get the ball to the plate. "I think the clock is going to help him with the way he worked," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Saturday. "The tempo was fabulous." Kikuchi worked two scoreless innings against Pittsburgh, giving up one hit and striking out five, and if he continues to impress in camp he should emerge as the favorite for the fifth starter spot ahead of Mitch White (shoulder).

FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Blue Jays' Yusei Kikuchi stellar in early statement for fifth starter's spot BRADENTON, Fla. — As tenuous as it might be given his at-times calamitous performances of 2022, for now the Blue Jays fifth starter belongs...

FEBRUARY 25, 2023 • TORONTOSUN.COM

Yusei Kikuchi strikes out five | 02/25/2023 Yusei Kikuchi fans five Pirates over two innings in his first outing of Spring Training

FEBRUARY 25, 2023 • MLB.COM

Feeling healthy, confident Kikuchi told Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker that "it's the best he's felt in five years," Walker relayed to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com Thursday.

Impact "His confidence level is high right now. He's excited," Walker added. Kikuchi -- who will start the Jays' Grapefruit League opener Saturday -- has made tweaks to his delivery and looks sharp early on this spring. The left-hander posted a 5.19 ERA during his disappointing first season in Toronto last year, but he did strike out 124 over 100.2 innings and is viewed as the favorite to capture the fifth spot in the rotation to open 2023.

FEBRUARY 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Made encouraging delivery tweaks Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Thursday that Kikuchi has made encouraging adjustments to his delivery, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Impact "I love what I've seen out of Yusei so far," said Schneider. "He's made some small tweaks with his arm path and spent a lot of time in the offseason working on it." Kikuchi is expected to contend with Mitch White this spring for the final spot in the Jays' season-opening starting rotation. The 31-year-old left-hander struggled to a 5.19 ERA in 100.2 innings last season for Toronto.

FEBRUARY 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE