AL East-leading Blue Jays use 4-run second inning to beat struggling Justin Verlander and the Giants

TORONTO (AP) — Chris Bassitt and three relievers combined on a shutout, and the Toronto Blue Jays roughed up San Francisco’s Justin Verlander in a 4-0 win over the Giants on Friday night.

Bassitt (10-4) allowed 10 hits, struck out five and walked none in 6 1/3 innings as AL East-leading Toronto kicked off the second half by improving to 33-16 at home.

Bassitt became the first major league pitcher in more than a decade to give up at least 10 hits and not allow a run. White Sox left-hander John Danks did it in a complete-game win at Houston on May 31, 2015.

Brendon Little struck out both batters he faced, Yariel Rodríguez worked the eighth and Jeff Hoffman finished for the Blue Jays, who have won 14 of 18. The shutout was Toronto's seventh of the season.

Verlander (0-8) allowed four runs and matched a season high by allowing nine hits in 2 2/3 innings, extending his career-worst winless streak to 16 starts. It was Verlander’s shortest outing since he went 2 1/3 innings against Seattle on April 4, his second start of 2025.

Verlander started in Toronto for the first time since no-hitting the Blue Jays with Houston on Sept. 1, 2019, his second of two career no-hitters in Canada.

The veteran right-hander allowed Springer’s ground ball single in the first inning, then gave up four runs on six hits in the second. He was replaced by Tristan Beck after a two-out walk to Will Wagner, Toronto’s No. 9 hitter.

Wagner hit a two-run double off Verlander in the decisive second inning.

Left-hander Little replaced Bassitt with runners at first and second in the seventh. Little struck out pinch-hitter Luis Matos and struck out Heliot Ramos to end the threat.

Verlander is one game shy of matching the Giants record for consecutive winless starts, set by Mark Davis between June 19, 1984 and June 30, 1986.

RHP Logan Webb (9-6, 2.94 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Giants on on Saturday against Blue Jays LHP Eric Lauer (4-2, 2.78).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

San Francisco Giants pitcher Justin Verlander (35) is taken out of the game by manager Bob Melvin against the Toronto Blue Jays during third inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Friday, July 18, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Will Wagner (7) hits a two-run double against the San Francisco Giants during second inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Friday, July 18, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Justin Verlander (35) catches the ball thrown back by his catcher during second inning MLB baseball action against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto on Friday, July 18, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Justin Verlander (35) reacts after being taken out of the game against the Toronto Blue Jays during third inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Friday, July 18, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido (10) hits an RBI double against the San Francisco Giants during the second inning of a baseball in Toronto, Friday, July 18, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Things have quickly gone from bad to worse for the injury-plagued Denver Nuggets, who don’t have a true healthy center on their roster after losing three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and backup Jonas Valanciunas earlier this week.

Three other core players, Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson and Christian Braun, were already sidelined with injuries, leaving point guard Jamal Murray as their last starter standing Friday in a 113-108 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Murray scored 34 points and had seven assists in 39 minutes.

“There is no complaining here, but sometimes it’s a mystery to the head coach what’s going to happen,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said. “I can’t tell you how we’re going to be. I’ve just got to try things through these next few weeks.”

Jokic went down with a left knee hyperextension at Miami on Monday, just four days after his historic 56-point, 16-rebound, 15-assist performance against Minnesota on Christmas. He will be re-evaluated in four weeks.

The 7-foot Serbian is averaging 29.6 points and leads the NBA with 12.2 rebounds and 11.0 assists per game. Jokic has 16 triple-doubles in 32 games.

Valanciunas strained his right calf in Toronto on Wednesday and also will not have his status updated until the end of January, forcing Denver to start 6-foot-9 rookie forward DaRon Holmes II at center. Holmes picked up two fouls in the first 81 seconds and finished with three points and six assists in Cleveland.

“Right now, we are who we are,” Adelman said. “I’m actually excited for it, seeing DaRon out there for his first real action.”

Power forward Gordon (right hamstring strain), small forward Johnson (right knee soreness) and shooting guard Braun (left ankle sprain) do not have projected return dates, leaving Denver without players averaging a combined 80 points.

Remarkably, the Nuggets have maintained the third-best record in the West at 23-11.

“No one knows what’s going to happen with Aaron and Christian,” Adelman said. “And obviously, Cam, Jonas and Nikola are going to be out a while.”

Murray has been steady, regardless of who he is on the court with, averaging career highs of 25.4 points and 6.9 assists. The 10th-year pro is seeking his initial All-Star appearance and is logging a team-best 35.3 minutes per game.

The bumps and bruises are piling up, though, as Murray is playing through a left ankle sprain. Keeping him in the lineup is an ongoing issue for Adelman, who is in his first full season as Denver’s coach.

“It’s my biggest worry because Jamal is a concern,” Adelman said. “It’s a daily conversation with trainers and our medical staff, but he feels responsibility for his teammates to be out there.

“There is open communication every day. We’ll do our best to take care of him.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Denver Nuggets head coach David Adelman gestures in the second half of an NBA basketball against the Cleveland Cavaliers game Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) reaches for a rebound with Denver Nuggets forward Daron Holmes II (14) and guard Jamal Murray (27) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Toronto Raptors forward/center Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) shoots over Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valančiūnas (17) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto, Wednesday Dec. 31, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) makes pass as Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) and guard Ochai Agbaji (30) defend during first half NBA action in Toronto on Wednesday Dec.31, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)