Nick gets knocked around by Jays
TORONTO — Nick Nastrini might be relieved to know he won’t get deep-sixed after his disastrous return from Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday.
Six was the number of walks that plunged Nastrini’s pitching line down to nine runs allowed in 3„ innings. Nastrini has been troubled by walks in the past, but the half-dozen allowed in a 9-2 loss, coupled with seven hits, including Bo Bichette’s third homer, was not what the Sox are looking for.
“He should feel comfortable enough to know he’s a big part of the future,” manager Pedro Grifol said before the game. “One start is not going to make or break his career here. I just want him to go out there, enjoy the moment, have some fun.”
Nastrini pitched a scoreless first inning, but there would be no fun after that, especially when the Jays scored seven in the second after two outs. In the third, he pitched around a leadoff walk to Cavan Biggio, but in the fourth, he walked Daulton Varsho and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Bichette singled, and center fielder Dominic Fletcher’s throw skipped beyond third baseman Zach Remillard’s reach, and two more runs scored.
After Nastrini walked Justin Turner, his night was done at 86 pitches — 47 for strikes. Eight of the nine runs he allowed were earned.
“He gave up four 0-2, 1-2 hits that he’s just got to get better at,” Grifol said. “It’s tough to get guys 0-2, 1-2 in this league, and when you do, you’ve got to put guys away.
“What I told him is this, he’s going to face these guys in five days [in Chicago]. That’s the schedule right now. So he’s got four days to adjust, make all the necessary adjustments.”
A 2021 fourth-round draft pick of the
Dodgers acquired with Jordan Leasure in the trade for Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly, Nastrini made his debut against the Royals on April 15, allowing two runs in five innings. After walking five and allowing six runs in three innings to the Phillies six days later, he was sent back to Charlotte, where he’s 0-4 with a 5.86 ERA in six starts.
“Definitely not the way you map that one out,” Nastrini said. “I wasn’t getting ahead with my fastball and being in the zone with my offspeed. When they pick up on that, they’re going to get timely hits.”
Grifol didn’t think Nastrini was tipping
his pitches. Nastrini said the pitch sequencing was fine, but not being able to throw his elevated fastball for strikes was costly.
“When you’re only pitching in the bottom half of the zone,” Nastrini said, “they’re looking in one spot. If you’re not changing their eye level, what are you going to do? They’re great hitters; they’re going to make adjustments and hit the ball when you throw the ball in one spot.”
This and that
Brad Keller cleared waivers and elected free agency. Keller was designated for assignment
Monday and replaced by Nastrini.
† Right fielder Zach DeLoach went 0-for3 with a walk in his major-league debut.
† Grifol said there are no immediate plans for former Braves starters Michael Soroka or Jared Shuster to join the rotation. Soroka (2„ scoreless innings) has tossed 6„ scoreless innings since going to the bullpen, and Shuster has a 2.00 ERA in relief.
† In Eloy Jimenez’s absence, Grifol said he’ll rotate players, in part to get Tommy Pham and Andrew Vaughn occasional breaks “off their feet.” Pham DH’d and homered.