Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt credits wife after complete game shutout: 'Baseball wives are the real MVPs'

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt tossed a complete game shutout in a 3-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday, but he might not have been able to turn in such a sterling performance if not for some help on the home front.

Bassitt tweeted after the game that his wife, Jessica, played a huge role in helping him get ready for his outing by letting him get some rest while she looked after their sick child.

"Appreciate all the love but I’m gonna be honest… the real MVP is [Jessica]," Bassitt wrote. "My daughter got really sick yesterday. She knew I had to pitch today and let me sleep a couple hours while she didn’t sleep all night. The baseball wives are the real MVPs."

The right-hander also disclosed that his wife is pregnant and expecting another child "any day."

Bassitt, who signed a three-year, $63-million contract in the offseason, was nearly untouchable against the NL East-leading Braves, surrendering just two hits on the night. He did run into some trouble in the fifth inning thanks to a walk and two hit batters, but stranded the bases loaded to escape the jam.

The 34-year-old threw 70 of his 103 pitches for strikes to win his fourth straight decision and lower his ERA to 3.49. He's rebounded nicely after a disastrous first game with the Blue Jays in which he surrendered nine runs to the St. Louis Cardinals. He's allowed just 10 earned runs total in his seven appearances since.

Toronto's victory was a much-needed one after the team suffered a two-game sweep at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies earlier this week. Bassitt's performance also bought the bullpen an extra day of rest as the club began a stretch of 17 games in 17 days.

The Blue Jays and Braves resume their three-game series at Rogers Centre on Saturday as Toronto's Jose Berrios toes the rubber against Atlanta's Bryce Elder.