Game #45 - Toronto Blue Jays (20-25) @ Detroit Tigers (20-26) - game recap

 

Daulton Varsho had a clutch RBI base hit in the 10th to lead the Blue Jays to a clutch 2-1 extra innings comeback win over the Tigers

After a loss to the Tigers last night due to Jeff Hoffman being unable to get the game to extra innings, The Blue Jays were looking to even the series and avoid their 10th series loss of the season. It was a bullpen day with Mason Fluharty getting the start and Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Lenyn Sosa got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays even the series and avoid their 10th series loss of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights: 

• Mason Fluharty pitching line: 1.1IP 1H 0R 0BB 3K 18 pitches (13 for strikes)
• The Tigers opened the scoring in the bottom of the 6th as Adam Vireling whacked a solo shot to left and into the Tigers bullpen
• Casey Mize pitching line: 6IP 2H 0R 0BB 4K 71 pitches (51 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays tied it in the top of the 7th as Yohendrick Pinago smackeda solo blast to right
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the 10th as Daulton Varsho singled scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• Final score: Blue Jays 2 Tigers 1 (10 innings)

My Take:

• Mason Fluharty did his part in today's bullpen game, pounding the strike zone, racking up 3 strikeouts and only allowing one hit. For at least the next month, the Blue Jays will have to cobble things together after the news that Jose Berrios will undergo elbow surgery next Wednesday putting him out a minimum 2 months and could be 12-18 months due to possible ligament damage. Shane Bieber, if no setbacks, could be back in the rotation sometime in June.
• The bullpen gave up a run on 6 hits while walking 2 and striking out 11 over the last 8.2 innings. Louis Varland has slid into the closer/highest leverage role quite nicely. Got into a bit of trouble in the 9th but pitched his way out of it. Spencer Miles should be stretched out to a tranditional starters role.
• The offence is still very much ice cold. Yohendrick Pinago, who should not have been optioned to AAA-ball when Addison Barger returned from the IL for a game, knocked one out in the 7th to tie the game. Daulton Varsho drove in Vlad in the 10th inning and that was just enough to get the win. Vlad just looks lost at the plate.
• The Tigers were a perfect 2-0 on ABS challenges and the Blue Jays were 1-1 on ABS challenges. You know things are going bad for Davis Schneider when he loses an ABS challenge
• The Blue Jays were 1-5 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try for 2 straight wins and to notch their 6th series win of the season. It will be a battle of the aces as Kevin Gausman takes on Tigers righty Jack Flaherty (that was a mistake in yesterday's recap, scrolled too far forward on mlb.com.

Game #45 - Toronto Blue Jays (19-25) @ Detroit Tigers (20-25)

 

Game #44 - Toronto Blue Jays (19-25) @ Detroit Tigers (20-25) - game recap

 

Andres Gimenez drove in the only 2 Blue Jays runs in a losing effort as the Tigers came from behind to walk off the Blue Jays 3-2

After an off-day/travel day yesterday, the Blue Jays opened a weekend series in Detroit. The Blue Jays took the season series last year, outscoring the Tigers 35-26. Trey Yesavage got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. The rest of the lineup was the same as Wednesday's walk-off win. Could the Blue Jays make it 2 straight wins? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Andres Gimenez doubled scoring Kazuma Okamoto and Ernie Clement 
• Brendan Hanifee pitching line: 1IP 1H 1R (earned) 0BB 1K 14 pitches (11 for strikes)
• The Tigers got one back in the bottom of the 3rd of a wild pitch by Trey Yesavage that scored Kevin McGonigle
• The Tigers tied it in the bottom of the 6th as Riley Greene doubled scoring Dillon Dingler
• Trey Yesavage pitching line: 6IP 4H 2R (both earned) 3BB 6K 88 pitches (54 for strikes)
• The Tigers walked it off in the bottom of the 9th as Spencer Torkelson singled scoring Matt Vierling
• Final score: Tigers 3 Blue Jays 2

My Take:

• Trey Yesavage fired 6 innings, giving up a pair of runs on 4 hiis while walking 3 and striking out 6. He's still trying to work his way into mid-season form with his command being iffy. Yesavage uncorked 3 wild pitches and wasn't as efficient as he could have been.  The Blue jays are going to be very careful with his work load and you won't see him pushing 100 pitches very often. He's getting better every start though, so progress
• The bullpen gave up 1 run on 3 hits while walking 2 and striking out 3 over the last 2.2 innings. Jeff Hoffman has proven the last couple of outings that he should not be handed the closer's role again. Daulton Varsho saved his butt on Wednesday with a walk-off grand slam after Hoffman gave up a pair of runs in the top half of the inning. Tonight, he had to get through the inning to send the game to extra innings. His velocity was solid tonight, but his command hasn't been good enough. He could be Pete Walker's next pet project.
• Offensively, Andres hit a clutch 2-run double in the 2nd, but the bats weren't able to do much after that on a bullpen game for the Tigers. Vlad and Kazuma Okamoto both made poor decisions to swing on 3-0 counts. Vlad should have known better, but he is pressing hard to prove he's worth the $500 million investment the team has made in him.
• Brandon Valenzuela is going to need a big ice pack after getting dinged a few times by wild pitches. Maybe Tyler Heineman will get an extra start if Valenzuela wakes up sore in the morning.
• The Tigers were 1-1 on ABS challenges and Ernie Clement was unsuccessful in the Blue Jays only ABS challenge
• The Blue Jays were 1-4 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series and avoid their 10th series loss of the season. It will be a bullpen day in the truest sense of the word with Eric Lauer DFA'd the day after his last ugly appearance. Mason Fluharty will be the first man up with Yariel Rodriguez expected to pitch some innings too. The Tigers will counter with righty Jack Flaherty

Game #44 - Toronto Blue Jays (19-24) @ Detroit Tigers (19-25) AppleTV Exclusive

 

Game #43 - Tampa Bay Rays (28-14) @ Toronto Blue Jays (19-24) - game recap

 

Daulton Varsho hit a walk off grand slam as the Blue Jays came from behind to defeat the Rays 5-3 in extra innings

After an extra innings loss yesterday due to Brayden Fisher giving up runs in the 10th inning, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the 3 game skid and avoid being swept for the 3rd time this season and 2nd straight time vs. the Rays. Dylan Cease got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Yohendrick Pinago was in LF and Jesus Sanchez was in RF. Andres Gimenez was back at SS after the complete day off yesterday with Ernie Clement at 2B. Could the Blue Jays snap the 3 game skid and avoid being swept for the 3rd time this season and 2nd straight time vs. the Rays? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• Griffin Jax pitching line: 5IP 4H 0R 4BB 1K 66 pitches (38 for strikes)
• The Rays opened the scoring in the top of the 7th as Richie Palacios singled scoring Jonathan Aranda
• Dylan Cease pitching line: 7IP 3H 1R (earned) 3BB 9K 99 pitches (61 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays tied it in the bottom of the 8th on a sac fly by Kazuma Okamoto that scored George Springer
• The Mets retook the lead in the top of the 10th as Ben Williamson singled scoring Chandler Simpson
• Two batters later, Yandy Diaz singled home Diaz
• The Blue Jays won iit in the bottom half of the inning on a walk off grand slam to the opposite field in left and into the Blue Jays bullpen by Daulton Varsho; also scoring Springer, Okamoto and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• Final score: Blue Jays 5 Rays 3 (10 innings)

My Take:

• Dylan Cease fired 7 strong innings, giving up a run on 3 hits while walking 3 and striking out 9. He's turned into an excellent off-season signing and has been giving the Blue Jays a chance to win every game. He retired the first 10 batters he faced.
• The bullpen gave up a pair of runs on 5 hits while walking 2 and striking out 3 over the last 3 innings. Jeff Hoffman proved he still can't handle a high leverage situation with the game on the line. He allowed two runs in the 10th inning. Mason Fluharty retired the only batter he faced
• The offense faced the same scenario as last night: down 2 runs in the bottom of the 10th. This time they took full advantage of a pitcher  that is not good and loaded the bases before Daulton Varsho walked it off with a grand slam. Kazuma Okamoto drove in the other Blue Jays run with a sac fly
• Rays catcher Hunter Feduccia was 2-2 on ABS challenges. The Blue Jays catchers Brandon Valenzuela and Tyler Heineman both successully overturned one ABS challenge each
• The Blue Jays were 1-10 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, after an off-day/travel day tomorrow, the Blue Jays commence a road trip in Detroit. The Blue Jays took the season series last year, outscoring the Tigers 35-26. Trey Yesavage gets the start. The Tigers have not set their rotation for the series yet