Game #134 Kansas City Royals (59-74) v. Toronto Blue Jays (64-69)

 

Game #133 - Kansas City Royals (59-74) @ Toronto Blue Jays (64-69) - game recap

 

Nathan Lukes drove in a pair of runs in a 5-3 loss to the Royals 

After an off-day/travel day yesterday, the Blue Jays opened a week long homestand, taking on the KC Royals for the first time this season. The Royals won the season series last year, outscoring the Blue Jays 45-21. Shane Bieber was placed on the 15-day IL (retroactive to August 21) with a right major teres strain. Chad Dallas was recalled from AAA-ball. Max Scherzer got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Myles Straw was in LF, Brett Bateman was in CF and Nathan Lukes wad in RF. Andres Gimenez was back in the lineup at SS after missing a few days with a strained hamstring. Ernie Clement was at 2B. Jesus Sanchez served as DH. Could the Blue Jays start the week and homestand with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Royals opened the scoring in the top of the 1st on a double play ball hit by Salvador Perez that scored Bobby Witt Jr.
• The Blue Jays tied it in the bottom half of the inning on a sac fly by Jesus Sanchez that scored Brett Bateman
• The Royals took the lead in the top of the 5th as Perez singled scoring Witt Jr.
• Max Scherzer pitching line: 5IP 4H 2R (both earned) 5BB 4K 92 pitches (51 for strikes)
• Seth Lugo pitching line: 5IP 6H 1R (earned) 1BB 5K 89 pitches (53 for strikes)
• The Royals took the lead in the top of the 6th on a throwing error by Vlad on a ball hit by Kyle Isbel that scored Nick Loftin
• A batter later, John Rave scored on a sac fly hit by Carter Jensen
• The Royals added a run in the top of the 9th as Rave singled scoring Tyler Tolbert
• The Blue Jays got a pair back in the bottom half of the inning as Nathan Lukes singled scoring Daz Cameron and Bateman
• Final score: Royals 5 Blue Jays 3

My  Take:

• Max Scherzer battled through 5 innings, giving up a pair of runs on 4 hits while walking 5 and striking out 4. He struggled with his command right from the get-go and got fortunate to escape the 1st inning with just one run allowed thanks to Salvador Perez hitting into a double play. He did settle down to retire 8 in a row at one point. The Blue Jays need Scherzer to go deeper in games as they continue to be pummeled in the injury department.
• The bullpen gave up 3 runs (just 1 earned thanks to a bad throw to first from Vladdy after fielding a bunt) on 6 hits while walking 4 and striking out 5 over the last 4 innings. None of the relievers got through an inning cleanly, but at least none of the runs were charged to Brendan Little, Mason Fluharty or Paul Sewald.
• The offense didn't do muchh except tying the game immediately after the Royals took the lead thanks to a Jesus Sanchez ssac fly and a clutch base hit by Nathan Lukes, who ended the game trying to stretch the single into a double. Alejandro Kirk's hitting streak came to an end. Gutsy effort by Ernie Clement to stay in the game after fouling the ball off his balls. Next time he'll be weariing a cup after that experience
• The Blue Jays were 3-1 on ABS challenges. Royals catcher Carter Jensen was unsuccessful on the Royals only ABS challenge
• The Blue Jays were a dreadful 1-11 with runners in scoring position
• In terms of the wild card race, The Blue Jays are now 2.5 games back of the Guardians (who are currently losing their game against the Angels, who are playing the spoiler role very well) for the 2rd WC spot. The Rangers (who lost to the White Sox) are a half game back of the 3rd WC spot The Orioles (spanked the Cardinals 13-1) and Twins (currently losing to the A's) are both 2 games back of the 3rd WC spot. The Mariners (currently tied with the Phillies in their game tonight) are 3 games back of the 3rd WC spot. Finally, the Tigers, whp won today, are 4 games back of the 3rd WC spot. There's going to be lots of scoreboard watching in the last month of the season. Buckle up Blue Jays fans.
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series and avoid their 21st series loss of the season. It will be an all too familiar bullpen game for the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays offense will take on Royals righty Randy Dobnak.

Game #133 Kansas City Royals (58-74) v. Toronto Blue Jays (64-68)

 

Game #132 - Toronto Blue Jays (64-68) @ New York Yankees (74-56) - game recap

 

Alejandro Kirk drove in a run and extended his hitting streak to 12 games in an 8-3 loss to the Yankees

After a huge win on the strength of 6.2 strong innings from Dylan Cease and a 2-RBI effort from Nathan Lukes, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 20th series win and 9th season series win of the season. Jose Soriano got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. The rest of the lineup was the same as yesterday's win. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 20th series win and 9th season series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Yankees opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Spencer Jones doubled scoring George Lomard Jr.
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning on a sac fly by Brett Bateman that scored Charles McAdoo
• The Blue Jays tied it in the bottom of the 4th on asac fly by Daz Cameron that scored George Springer
• Carlos Rodon pitching line: 4IP 2H 2R (1 earmed) 2BB 2K 76 pitches (42 for strikes)
• The Yankees took the lead in the bottom of the 6th on a bases loaded walk to Trent Grisham that forced in Lombard Jr.
• A batter later, Ben Rice singled scoring Jones and Jazz Chisholm Jr.
• Jose Soriano pitching line: 5IP 7H 5R (all earmed) 3BB 7K 100 pitches (62 for strikes)
• The Yankees added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 7th as Chisholm belted a 2-run jack to the second deck in right; also scoring Cody Bellinger
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 8th as Alejandro Kirk singled scoring Myles Straw
• The Yankees added a run in the bottom half of the inning as Grisham hanmmered a solo bomb to dead center
• Final score: Yankees 8 Blue Jays 3

My Take:

• Jose Soriano battled through 5 innings, giving up 5 runs on 7 hits while walking 3 and striking out 7. Three of the runs should not have been charged to him because he should have been done after 5 innings. This game shows the inability of the front office to address the lack of pitching depth. Yes, they could not have anticipated every single injury that occurred, but they knew Shane Bieber, Jose Berrios, Trey Yesavage (pitched through 4 tiers last season) and Bowsdenn Francis would all be unavailable to start the season. It didn't help that Cody Ponce tore his ACL his first start of the season and both Eric Lauer and Max Scherzer were unable to replicate the 2025 season.
• The bullpen gave up 3 more runs on 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 4 over the last 3 innings. At least they stayed away from most of the high leverage guys, other than Mason Fluharty
• The sputtering offence produced a run on a sac fly and a clutch base hit off the red hot bat of Alejandro Kirk, who extended his hitting streak to 12 games. Not good enough 
• Neither team was successful in ABS challenges with the Yankees 0-2 and Alejandro Kirk unsuccessful on the Blue Jays only ABS challenge.
• The Blue Jays were 1-9 with runners in scoring position
• In terms of the WC race, the Blue Jays and Twins (could gain a half game if they win today) are 1.5 games back of the Rangers for the 3rd WC spot.. The Guardians look like they are going to be tied with the Rangers with a win today. The Orioles already lost and are 2 games back of the 3rd WC spot. The Mariners are losing and could fall to 3 games back of the 3rd WC spot. The Tigers have already lost and are 3.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot. The Tigers, Rangers, Guardians, Mariners, and Twins all play tomorrow and would gain a half game on the idle Blue Jays with wins
• Up next, after an off-day/travel day tomorrow, the Blue Jays open a week long homestand as they take on the Royals for the first time this season. The Royals took the season series last year, outscoring the Blue Jays 45-21. Max Scherzer starts against Royals righty Seth Lugo

Game #132 Toronto Blue Jays (64-67) @ New York Yankees (73-56)