Game #153 - Detroit Tigers (72-80) @ Toronto Blue Jays (76-77) - game recap

After a blowout loss due to a brutal day for the exhausted bullpen and the offense not producing enough, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the 2 game skid, and avoid their 13th season series loss and being swept for the 4th time this season. Max Scherzer got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate.  Myles Straw was in lf, Ernie Clement was at SS and Josh Smith got the start at 2B.  Could the Blue Jays snap the 2 game skid, and avoid their 13th season series loss and being swept for the 4th time this season? Here is today's game recap. 

Game Highlights:

• The Tigers took the lead in the top of the 1st as Riley Greene singled scoring Colt Keith
• The Blue Jays tied it in the bottom of the 4th on a sac fly by Ernie Clement that scored Kazuma 
• Two batters later, Myles Straw singled scoring Josh Smith
• Keider Montero pitching line: 4IP 6H 2R (both earned) 2BB 4K 89 pitches (55 for strikes)
• The Blue jays added a run in the top of the 5th as George Springer singled scoring Brett Bateman
• Max Scherzer pitching line: 5IP 3H 1R (earned) 3BB 3K 73 pitches (44 for strikes)
• The Blue jays added a run in the bottom of the 6th on a throwing error by Tigers SS John Peck on a ball hit by Brandon Valenzuela that scored Clement
• Three batters later, Lukes singled home Valenzuela
• Louis Varland got the last 3 outs for his 34th save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 5 Tigers 1

My Take:

• Max Scherzer battled through 5 innings, giving up a run on 3 hits while walking 3 and striking out 3. His main issue today was bearing down to get the last outs. In the 1st inning, he retired the first 2 batters of the game, then coding a run on 2 hits. The next inning, Scherzer walked a batter after recording the first two outs of the inning, but struck out John Peck to end the threat. Scherzer ended the day strong, retiring the last 4 batters he faced. At this point, should the Blue Jays squeak into the playoffs, Scherzer will almost certainly be in the playoffs by default of being able to throw 80-100 pitches. Things will get trickier should the Blue Jays advance to the divisional round, where you need 4 starters. 
• The bullpen threw 4 scoreless innings, giving up 4 hits, walking 1 and striking out 3. John Schneider has faced plenty of criticism over his bullpen use, but he went straight to closer Louis Varland the moment the first two hitters reached in the 9th inning. I think he knew how important it was to win today, especially after the Guardians took the series against the White Sox. Also, with the offense day tomorrow, Schneider likely wanted Varland to throw at some point in the series to keep him sharp. 
• The offense did a lot better capitalizing with runners in scoring position.  It was a team effort with everyone in the lineup except Vlad either scoring a run or driving in s run. Some nice hustle by Brandon Valenzuela forced a bad throw that led to one of the runs
• Brandon Valenzuela was 2-1 on ABS challenges and the Tigers were 1-1 on ABS challenges 
• The Blue Jays were 3-12 with runners in scoring position
• In terms of the wild card race, a significant shift occurred today with the Guardians beating the White Sox. With the win, the Guardians overtook the White Sox and lead them by a half game in the AL Central. The Blue Jays sit 1.5 games (really 2 games back since the white Sox hold the tiebreaker over the Blue Jays after winning the season series) of the Chisox for the 3rd WC spot. The Rangers (play later tonight vs. The Red Sox) are also 1.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot for the moment, but will end the night either a game back or 2 games back of the 3rd WC spot depending on if they win or lose. The Orioles (leading their game tonight) are 3 games back of the 3rd WC spot, but will be 2.5 games back if they hold on or 3.5 games back if they lose. The Rangers hold the tiebreaker over the Blue jays. Who gets the all important tiebreaker between the Orioles and Blue Jays will be determined when the two squads meet in Baltimore starting next Monday. The Blue Jays need just one more win to secure the season series win and tiebreaker.
• Up next, after an off-day/travel day tomorrow, the Blue Jays open the final road trip of the regular season in Arlington against the Rangers, who swept the Blue Jays in Toronto back at the end of June, outscoring the Blue Jays 21-15. Ace Dylan Cease will start Friday for the Blue Jays. The Rangers haven't set their rotation for the series yet. 

Game #153 Detroit Tigers (72-79) v. Toronto Blue Jays (75-77)

Game #152 - Detroit Tigers (72-79) @ Toronto Blue Jays (75-77) - game recap

Brendan Cellucci retired every batter he faced and struck out three of them in his big-league debut in a 10-1 loss to the Tigers

After a loss yesterday due to the bullpen blowing a lead, the Blue Jays were looking to even the series and avoid their 23rd series loss of the season. It was bullpen day with Brayden Fisher getting the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. The rest of the lineup was the same as yesterday's loss.  Could the Blue Jays even the series and avoid their 23rd series loss of the season?  Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• Brayden Fisher pitching line: 1.1IP 0H 0R 2BB 1K 25 pitches (14 for strikes)
• The Tigers opened the scoring in the top of the 4th as Max Clark doubled scoring Riley Greene
• A batter later, Spencer Torkelson smacked a 3-run blast to left-center; also scoring Clark and Eduardo Valencia
• The Tigers added a run in the top of the 5th as Greene singled scoring Kevin McGionigle
• Drew Anderson pitching line: 5IP 2H 0R 3BB 4K 88 pitches (58 for strikes)
• The Tigers added a run in the top of the 6th as John Peck singled scoring Torkelson. Peck was thrown out at 2nd base trying to stretch a single into a double
• The Tigers added a pair of runs in the top of the 8th on a throwing error by Alejandro Kirk that scored Valencia and Torkelson
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Kirk singled scoring Brett Bateman
• The Tigers added a run in the top of the 9th as Hao-Yu Lee hammered a solo bomb to the second deck in left
• Three batters later, Clark singled scoring Ben Malgeri
• Final score: Tigers 10 Blue Jays 1

My Take:

• On yet another bullpen day, Brayden Fisher got the first 4 outs, but walked 2 batters and needed over 20 pitches to escape the 1st inning. With the bullpen already reeling from a heavy work load all season covering the three traditional starters, they hardly need more games where they are expected to cover all 27 outs. I still think, whenever baseball resumes after the expected lengthy lockout/strike, the Blue Jays need to keep an extra 2-3 pitchers stretched out in the bullpen and maybe skip a Dylan Cease start once in a while to keep those pitchers stretched out so you're not having 1-2 bullpen days in a five day period. This is just not sustainable. 
• The rest of the bullpen gave up 10 runs on 10 hits while walking 6 and striking out 7 over the last 7.2 innings. By far the best pitcher of the night was lefty Brendan Cellucci, in his big league debut, retired all 5 batters he faced,striking out 3 of them. Michael Lorenzen (DFA'd tomorrow?) took the loss
• Alejandro Kirk drove in the only Blue Jays run tonight. Once again, the Blue Jays squandered a bases loaaded opportunity in the 3rd inning (Kirk grounded out to end that rally). Davis Schneider should not have an automatic spot on the opening day lineup next season. Pitchers have figured him out and he has no answer.
• The Blue Jays were 2-1 on ABS challenges and the Tigers were successful on their only ABS  challenge
• The Blue Jays were 1-4 with runners in scoring position
• Today was Roberto Clemente day. He died in a plane crash attempting to deliver emergency aid to earth quake victims in Nicaragua.
• In termsa of the WC race, with the loss, The Blue Jays are now 2 games back of the Guardians for the 3rd WC spot. The Rangers (leading their game) are also 2 games back for the moment, but will overtake the Blue Jays and be 1.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot with a crucial series between the Blue Jays and Rangers in Arlington starting Friday. The Orioles (won today) are 3 games back of the 3rd WC spot. Finally the Tigers are 4.5 games back and pretty need to win out and get help from other teams to snag the 3rd WC spot.
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 2 game skid and avoid their 12th season series loss of the season and avoid being swept in a series for the 4th time this season. Max Scherzer starts against Tigers righty Keider Montero

Game #152 Detroit Tigers (71-79) v. Toronto Blue Jays (75-76)

 

Game #151 - Detroit Tigers (71-79) @ Toronto Blue Jays (75-76) - game recap

 

Kazuma Okamoto drilled a 3-run HR in a losing effort as the Tigers came from behind to edge the Blue Jays 6-5

After a huge series win over Baltimore yesterday after a nice effort from the offense, including (finally) Vlad's first home run at the Roger's Centre in 2026 and a 4-RBI effort from George Springer, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 3 games as they welcomed the Tigers to town. The Blue jays took the series in Detroit back in mid-May, outscoring the Tigers 8-65. Rudy Martin Jr. was placed on the 10-day IL with a hamstring strain and Ricky Tiedemann was optioned to AAA-ball. Davis Schneider and lefty Brendan Cellucci were recalled from AAA-ball in their place. Jose Soriano got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Josh Smith was in LF, Brett Bateman was in CF and Nathan Lukes was in RF. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 3 games? Here is tonight's game recap. 

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Alejandro Kirk singled scoring Brett Bateman 
• A batter later, George Springer scored on a wild pitch by Troy Melton
• Troy Melton pitching line: 2.2IP 5H 2R (both earned) 4BB 3K 76 pitches (45 for strikes)
• The Tigers got one back in the top of the 7th as Dillon Dingler singled scoring Gleyber Torres 
• Two batters later, Max Clark doubled scoring Dingler and Riley Greene
• A batter later, Spencer Torkelson doubled home Clark
• Jose Soriano pitching line: 6.1IP 5H 4R (all earned) 1BB 5K 90 pitches (57 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Kazuma Okamoto hammered a 3-run bomb to the second deck in left; also scoring Springer and Kirk
• The Tigers tied it in the top of the 8th as Brett Callahan singled scoring Kevin McGonigle
• The Tigers took the lead in the top of the 9th on a throwing error by Louis Varland on a ball hit by Hao-Yu Ldd that scored Zach McKinstry
• Kenley Jansen threw a scoreless 8th for his 20th save of the season
• Final score: Tigers 6 Blue Jays 5

My Take:

• Jose Soriano was excellent through 6 innings, carrying a no hitter into in the 7th inning and was perfect through 5 until walking a batter with one out in the 6th. Unfortunately, the Tigers got to him in the 7th, scoring 4 runs on 5 hits. Sometimes when a pitcher has to pitch from the stretch after spending the whole game in the windup, it can wreck the momentum the pitcher has. Unfortunate end to an otherwise excellent start from Soriano
• The bullpen gave up 2 runs on 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 2 over the last 2.2 innings. Should the have pulled Soriano a batter or two early and maybe retained the lead or only been down a run instead of 2? Perhaps but the bullpen mighe not have been ready until John Schneider popped out of the dugout. Also, I can see why thet wanted to give Soriano a chance to finish the inning that ended up snowballing on him. Tonight's result also is an argument for tagging the blown save onto the pitcher resposible for the base runner that scored the tyung run, in ths case lefty Joe Mantiply. Instead Louis Varland, who should receive some Cy Young votes, was tagged for his second blown save of the season and the loss.
• What a massive home run from Kazuma Okamoto to give the Blue Jays the lead right back after the bullpen squandered the lead Alejandro Kirk (RBI single) and George Springer (scored on a wild pitch). However, if the Blue Jays  do miss the playoffs, tonight's game will be exhibit A as to why it happened. Too many base runners left stranded against a pitcher they had on the ropes. Second inning, they loaded the bases wth 2 outs and Vlad grounded out to end that rally. Next inning, runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs and no one scored again. Not good enough.
• The Blue Jays were a perfect 3-3 on ABS challenges and the Tigers were 1-2 on ABS challenges
• The Blue Jays were 2-11 with runners in scoring position
• In terms of the WC race, the Blue Jays remain a game behind the Guardians for the 3rd WC spot. If the Tigers were to sweep the series and the Guardians are swept by the White Sox, they would be just 2.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot and that could happen with a bullpen game scheduled for tomorrow and the weakest starter, Max Scherzer starting Wednesday. The idle Rangers gained a half game and are just 1.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot. The Orioles (won today) are 3 games hack of the 3rd WC spot 
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series and avoid their 23rd series loss of the season. It is bullpen day again with Spencer Miles, Spencer Arrighetti or Brayden Fisher likely serving as the opener. The Tigers will counter with righty Drew Anderson