Chris Bassitt and Ernie Clement Climbing Up the Toronto Blue Jays' Record Books

Starting pitcher Chris Bassitt and utility player Ernie Clement are climbing up the Toronto Blue Jays record books, in very different ways.

The Toronto Blue Jays are currently 73-61 and 2.5 games back of the third and final wild card spot in the American League. 

As they chase a playoff berth for the second consecutive year, a pair of Jays players are also putting themselves in the team record books.

Per @StatsCentre on social media regarding starting pitcher Chris Bassitt:

(Related) Most scoreless 6+ IP starts - Season by a #BlueJays pitcher: 

10- Clemens (1997) 

8- Bassitt (2023) 

8- Dave Stieb (1990) 

7- Stieb (1985) 

7- Jimmy Key (1986) 

7- Stieb (1988) 

7- Stieb (1989) 

7- Juan Guzman ('92) 

7- Brandon Morrow ('12) 

7- Manoah ('22) 

7- Kevin Gausman ('22)

(Related) Most scoreless 6+ IP starts - Season by a #BlueJays pitcher:
10- Clemens (1997)
8- Bassitt (2023)
8- Dave Stieb (1990)
7- Stieb (1985)
7- Jimmy Key (1986)
7- Stieb (1988)
7- Stieb (1989)
7- Juan Guzman ('92)
7- Brandon Morrow ('12)
7- Manoah ('22)
7- Kevin Gausman ('22) https://t.co/iLDtIHfir0

— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) August 31, 2023

With more than a month to play, Bassitt already has the second-most starts of 6+ innings or more and no runs allowed in team history. He also has the lowest opponent batting average at home of any pitcher in team history. Opponents are hitting just .184 against him at the Rogers Centre.

He's in his first year in Toronto after one year with the White Sox, six with the Athletics, and one with the Mets. He's 59-41 lifetime and owns a 13-7 record this season.

In addition to the good work being done by Bassitt is the good work being done by utility player Ernie Clement:

Highest average in a player's first 15 games with the @BlueJays franchise: .

444- Ernie Clement (2023) 

.444- Otto Velez (1977) 

.444- Steve Braun (1980) 

.426- Shea Hillenbrand (2005) 

.423- Gregg Zaun (2004) 

.419- Ed Sprague (1991) 

.405- Howie Clark (2003) 

.404- Rowdy Tellez (2018)

Clement only has 18 at-bats for the Jays but has provided eight hits. He's in his third year with the team after spending part of 2021 with the Guardians part of 2022 with the Guardians and A's.

Toronto will visit the Rockies on Friday night at 8:40 p.m. ET.

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