With the Blue Jays up 1-0, Francis retired Kyle Schwarber and Alec Bohm before walking Nick Castellanos and Max Kepler. Then, the 29-year-old hit J.T. Realmuto with a pitch, walked Bryson Stott to bring in a run, and hit Otto Kemp to bring in another run. Toronto manager John Schneider had seen enough after that.

Toronto has remained without veteran starting pitcher Max Scherzer, who has been working his way back from a thumb injury. Scherzer, an eight-time All-Star, joined the Blue Jays on a one-year, $15.5 million contract but has been experiencing a tough start to life after exiting his debut game on March 29 due to a right thumb inflammation.

Max Kepler is having himself quite the homestand at a time when both he and the Phillies certainly needed it. One day after making one of his best defensive plays of the season, Kepler delivered argua