The Toronto Blue Jays took home a must-win game against the New York Yankees last night, spearheaded by a strong but abbreviated start from pitcher Yusei Kikuchi who left the game after five innings due to cramps.
When asked by reporters what had led to him leaving the game early, Kikuchi said the cramps may have stemmed from sleeping less than usual.
"I only got 11 hours of sleep so maybe that’s affecting this cramping today," Kikuchi said.
Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic then reported that Kikuchi said "he goes to bed around 11 p.m. and wakes up the following afternoon at around 1 p.m.
Kikuchi has been one of the Blue Jays most reliable starters of the 2023 season, posting a 3.74 ERA. Having lost Alek Manoah for the remainder of the season, Kikuchi's consistency has helped the Jays fight for a wild card playoff spot.
The Jays currently hold the second wild card spot ahead of the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers who sit a game behind them. With the season concluding on Oct. 1, the Jays are hoping Kikuchi doesn't miss any starts, though he's expected to make his next one.
