Toronto Blue Jays starter Bowden Francis was excellent on Wednesday as his team fell to the New York Mets 6-2. Francis pitched eight no-hit innings until giving up a home run to Fransisco Lindor in the ninth frame. He did not factor into the decision. Still, Francis' line was incredible: he pitched eight innings, gave up one hit, and walked and struck out one. The 28-year-old has been on a tear since returning to the Jays' rotation. In his past seven starts, he is (4-1) with a 1.50 ERA, a 0.44 WHIP, and a 5:46 BB: K in 48 IP. Francis seems to have at least earned a chance to compete for a rotation spot in 2025, and with that, he has increased his fantasy value and draft stock, too. Francis will look to continue his torrid stretch at his next start on Wednesday on the road against the Texas Rangers.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Bowden Francis continued his ridiculous run with seven more shutout innings, this time against the Boston Red Sox. Francis once again allowed just one hit while striking out five and walking none. It's been an incredible stretch for the 28-year-old, who has come out of nowhere to become a must-roster pitcher in fantasy. He now has four consecutive outings where he has allowed one run or less over seven-plus innings, and over those four starts he has allowed just six combined hits. If he is still out there in a shallow league, go get him as quickly as possible.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Bowden Francis took a no-hitter into the ninth inning on Saturday during Toronto's 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Francis lost the no-hitter after giving up a solo HR to Taylor Ward but was spectacular along the way, striking out 12 Angels and recording his seventh win of the season. Francis has been very strong as a starter, allowing just four ER over his last four starts since Toronto moved him into the rotation. This marks his third straight start going seven innings or deeper, including a prior start against the Angels where he only gave up one hit in seven innings. The 28-year-old now also has four straight starts with seven or more strikeouts, giving him plenty of value from a fantasy perspective. Fantasy managers looking for starting pitching help need to snag Francis off the waiver wire if available. His next scheduled start is set for Thursday when the Blue Jays finish off a four game series in Boston against the Red Sox. Boston's bats should provide a tough test for the righty, though they've been prone to strikeouts that may make Francis a solid DFS option.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Bowden Francis had seemingly no issues on the mound during Sunday's outing against the Chicago Cubs. Francis struck out seven batters while allowing three hits over seven shutout innings during Sunday's win. His splitter was basically unhittable during his game as he gave up no hard hits when using it. This is now back-to-back strong outings from Francis. He'll carry 4.38 ERA into his next outing against the Los Angeles Angels. He could be an interesting streaming option against the struggling Halos offense.

Toronto Blue Jays starter Bowden Francis (5-3) had the best start of his young career on Monday night as the Jays beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-2. In seven innings of work, Francis gave up one hit (a homer to Micky Moniak), walked none, and struck out eight. This gem brings Francis' ERA down to 4.92 on the season, and he will now surely get another turn in the rotation. He is available in 81% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues and is someone fantasy managers can pick up as a streamer. With how thin the Jays' pitching is this year, a starting job should be Francis' to run with. He looks to get another chance on Sunday against the Chicago Cubs.

The Toronto Blue Jays are expected to call up right-hander Bowden Francis from Triple-A Buffalo to have him start one of the games of their doubleheader against the division-rival Baltimore Orioles on Monday. Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi is lined up to pitch on Friday against the division-rival Texas Rangers, with right-handers Kevin Gausman and Jose Berrios scheduled to go on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Francis, 28, has posted a bloated 5.82 ERA (5.32 FIP) and 1.47 WHIP with 34 strikeouts and 14 walks in 16 appearances (only three starts) in his third year in the big leagues, but he has tossed nine scoreless innings with 13 K's and only one walk in his two starts since being sent to Buffalo. Despite his two recent strong starts on the farm, Francis will be a pretty risky deep-league streaming option for fantasy managers against the first-place O's.

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Brandon Eisert was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday, July 14, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. In a corresponding move, the Blue Jays optioned right-handed pitcher Bowden Francis to Triple-A. Eisert made one major league appearance earlier this season on June 17 and tossed two scoreless frames. He allowed one hit and three free passes. At Triple-A Buffalo, the Oregon State product posted a 5.17 ERA and 1.66 WHIP across 31 innings. The southpaw should continue to operate in a bullpen role in his second stint in the major leagues and could eventually be used in a bulk relief role, as he recorded over six outs in several outings in the minor leagues this season.

The Toronto Blue Jays announced that right-hander Trevor Richards will serve as the team's opener on Tuesday night against the visiting Baltimore Orioles, with right-hander Bowden Francis (forearm) expected to get the bulk of the innings in relief. Francis will be activated off the 15-day injured list for the assignment. Richards tossed 3 1/3 innings of relief last week against the Chicago White Sox and has gone more than an inning in seven of his 25 relief appearances this year, but fantasy managers looking for a streamer should still avoid the 31-year-old veteran. His last appearance came on Sunday against the Pirates. Francis, 28, has been out since late April with forearm tendonitis and had an ugly 8.59 ERA and 1.70 WHIP with 17 K's and seven walks in 14 2/3 innings for Toronto before going on the IL. Francis will be on a limited pitch count and should be avoided for streaming purposes.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Bowden Francis (forearm) is currently being considered to take right-hander Alek Manoah's (elbow) next turn in the starting rotation after he was put on the 15-day injured list on Friday with a right-elbow sprain. In Francis' last minor-league rehab outing on Tuesday for Triple-A Buffalo, he picked up the win while giving up an unearned run on one hit while walking one and striking out five in 3 2/3 innings of work. The 28-year-old has been out since late April with forearm tendonitis, but his outing on Tuesday with the Bisons was likely his last before he returns to the big-league roster. Francis will be returning to an ugly 8.59 ERA and 1.70 WHIP with 17 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings over five appearances (two starts) for Toronto before his injury, but he could be worth a look as a deep-league streamer now that Manoah is out for an extended amount of time.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Bowden Francis (forearm) will pitch in another minor-league rehab game on Tuesday for Triple-A Buffalo in what feels like the last rehab outing that he'll need before being reinstated from the injured list. The 28-year-old reliever gave up three runs (two earned) while striking out six and walking one in 6 2/3 innings in his first three rehab appearances. In what will most likely be a middle-relief/long-relief role in Toronto when he returns, Francis will have very little fantasy value. Before going on the injured list this year, he had gone 2-2 with an 8.59 ERA (5.99 FIP) and 1.70 WHIP with seven walks and 17 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings over five outings (two starts). Francis will always be an option for a spot start, too, if Toronto needs it.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Bowden Francis (forearm) is scheduled to make a minor-league rehab outing for Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday and throw two to three innings or 45 pitches, according to manager John Schneider. If Francis comes out of that appearance without any issues, the Blue Jays are hoping he'll be ready to come off the injured list after that and rejoin the pitching staff this weekend. In his first two rehab appearances, Francis threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings with two hits allowed, five strikeouts and just one walk. The 28-year-old was in Toronto's starting rotation to open the year due to injuries to other pitchers, but he's likely to return in a long-relief role this weekend, which puts him off the fantasy radar in the vast majority of leagues.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Bowden Francis has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to right forearm extensor tendinitis. The club has recalled left-hander Brendon Little from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move. Francis interestingly pitched two scoreless innings out of the bullpen for the Jays in their loss to the Royals on Wednesday but will seemingly miss some time moving forward. The 28-year-old cracked the rotation out of spring training but struggled out of the gate and has recently pitched in a multi-inning bullpen role. He has struggled to an 8.59 ERA across five outings (two starts) while allowing four home runs in 14 2/3 innings, good for a bloated 2.45 HR/9 clip.

The Toronto Blue Jays informed right-hander Bowden Francis on Thursday that he has made their Opening Day starting rotation. The Jays are tentatively targeting the fourth game of the season for Francis' first 2024 start on March 31 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Francis is essentially taking Alek Manoah's (shoulder) spot in Toronto's rotation to start the year after Manoah developed a shoulder injury in camp. The 27-year-old posted a 3.38 ERA, four walks and 15 strikeouts in 18 2/3 Grapefruit League innings to win the rotation spot to open the year. Francis will be making his first career start to begin the season after pitching in 21 games out of Toronto's bullpen over the last two years. He's now in play as a riser in AL-only leagues.

MLB.com's Keegan Matheson suggests that right-hander Bowden Francis feels like the front-runner for the final rotation spot to open the year after posting a 1.73 ERA over 36 1/3 innings last year. "He added the splitter this year, which I think will be good against lefties to go with his heater and curveball," manager John Schneider said. "I think it's just about seeing what his stuff does. We tried to do this a bit last year as camp went on, trying to get him up to 50-60 pitches. His stuff is so good in short spurts, but can you harness that as you get your pitch count up?" Francis' main competition is Mitch White, but the team's No. 13 prospect, right-hander Chad Dallas, could be a dark-horse candidate. Of course, if Alek Manoah (shoulder) isn't ready for the start of the year, both Francis and White could be in the Opening Day rotation.

Both Toronto Blue Jays pitchers Mitch White and Bowden Francis are being built up as starters in spring training. Cuban right-hander Yariel Rodriguez is also coming to camp as a starter, but he needs more time to get extended after not pitching at all in affiliated ball in 2023. The 29-year-old White could have an edge on the team's final roster spot in either a starting or relief role, but a spot in the bullpen is more likely. The main reason that White could break camp with the team this spring is that he's out of minor-league options. Most likely, he'll be a swing man in 2024. Francis, 27, has been mostly a starter in the minors, but all 21 of his big-league outings have come out of the bullpen. He's been great in 37 MLB relief innings, too, posting a 1.70 ERA and 0.84 WHIP, so he could become an intriguing AL-only streamer if he's making starts for Toronto in 2024.

Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitching prospect Bowden Francis, who came to Toronto in 2021 alongside Trevor Richards in the Rowdy Tellez trade, held his own in 2023 and posted a 1.73 ERA with 35 strikeouts and just eight walks in 36 1/3 innings in his first taste of the big leagues. His curveball is a legitimate plus pitch. Francis has earned a shot at starting again and could compete for the No. 5 starting-rotation spot in spring training. A trip to Triple-A Buffalo to begin the 2024 is most likely, but he'd be the next man up for the big-league rotation in that scenario. He could open the year as Toronto's bullpen swingman as well, which is a role he's grown comfortable with. Either way, Francis is going to pitch meaningful innings for the Jays in 2024