Toronto Blue Jays Acquire Powerful Relief Pitcher Jordan Hicks
The Toronto Blue Jays obtained Jordan Hicks, a pitcher renowned for his remarkable throwing speed, in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals.
In today's standings, the Blue Jays（59-47）would secure a spot in the playoffs as one of three wild card teams from the American League.
With their closer, Jordan Romano, injured and placed on the IL due to back inflammation, the team needed a new reliever. The Blue Jays seized this opportunity to trade with other contenders, including the New York Yankees, who were looking for a pitching upgrade.
The Cardinals, who were active sellers during the trade deadline, traded Hicks for a pair of prospects: Sem Robberse and Adam Kloffenstein. These players were both on the Blue Jays' Double-A affiliate, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, with Robberse being a rising star in their farm system.
Hicks, aged 26, is approaching his last year under contract and will become a free agent after the season.
Toronto's Hot Acquisition: Hicks
A right-handed thrower, Hicks boasts a triple-digit fastball, making him one of only two MLB pitchers to do so this season. Jhoan Duran from the Minnesota Twins is the sole player to record a faster pitch than Hicks.
Despite his uneven 1-6 record, Hicks impressed with the Cardinals, who were a last-place team with only 47 wins. He managed to strike out 59 batters over 41.2 innings, allowing just two home runs. He hasn't surrendered a home run since April in the middle of the season. In 40 relief appearances, Hicks saved eight games and earned six holds.
The Blue Jays boasted a powerful bullpen before this trade, ranking fourth in MLB with a 3.67 ERA. In 44 games, Romano saved 28 games with a 2.78 ERA and 1.119 WHIP.
With Romano expected to spend two weeks on the IL, Hicks will have the opportunity to adapt to his new team. Upon Romano's return, the Blue Jays will have a formidable duo to strengthen their bullpen for the remainder of the season.
Several clubs are enhancing their rosters before the trade deadline. The Texas Rangers acquired Max Scherzer from the Mets, while the Los Angeles Dodgers added four players in pursuit of a title.
The Blue Jays and Betting
Playing in MLB's most challenging division this year, the Blue Jays are currently in third place in the AL East, behind the surging Baltimore Orioles (64-41), who lead by 1.5 games over the second-place Tampa Bay Rays (64-44). Both the Orioles and Rays are the betting co-favorites to win the division at +130 odds, while the Blue Jays boast +475 odds.
The Blue Jays occupy one of three wild card positions, with the Rays, defending champion Houston Astros, the Red Sox (2.5 games back), Yankees (3.5 games), Los Angeles Angels (4 games back), and Seattle Mariners (4.5 games back) vying for the final two positions.
As per FanGraphs' postseason projections, the Blue Jays have a 6.2% chance of winning this year's World Series. Their chances rank fourth in the American League and sixth overall.
The Blue Jays have a 77.6% likelihood of reaching the playoffs, with a 15.5% probability of claiming the AL East title and 62% of making it through the wild card.
The Blue Jays' +1400 odds of winning the World Series place them seventh on DraftKings' list of MLB futures.
The Blue Jays are +700 odds to secure the AL pennant, an achievement that Toronto has not accomplished in the last 30 years. They last won the American League pennant in 1992 and '93, conquering back-to-back World Series titles in those seasons.
Hicks' joining the Blue Jays is part of their strategy to improve their roster before the trade deadline. With the relentless competitiveness in the league, every game is crucial as the playoff hunt heats up.
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Source: www.casino.org
