Game #10 - LA Dodgers (8-2) @ Toronto Blue Jays (4-6) - game recap

 

Ernie Clement drove in a run in a 14-2 blowout loss to the Dodgers

After another tough loss to the White Sox thanks to an ailing Eric Lauer, who wasn't well enough to help the team, and the inept offence. Lefty Josh Fleming was added to the MLB roster. Righty Austin Voth was DFA'd. Max Scherzer got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Davis Schneider was in LF and Myles Straw was in RF. Could the Blue Jays start the week with a win and snap the four-game skid? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Dodgers opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Teoscar Hernandez whacked a 2-run blast to left; also scoring Kyle Tucker
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Ernie Clement singled scoring George Springer
• Max Scherzer pitching line: 2IP 2H 2R (both earned) 1BB 2K 36 pitches (24 for strikes)
• The Dodgers added a pair of runs in the top of the 3rd as Freddie Freeman belted a 2-run jack to right-center; also scoring Shohei Ohtani
• The Dodgers added a run in the top of the 4th on a sac fly by Tucker that scored Dalton Rushing 
• The Dodgers added a run in the top of the 5th on a double play ball hit by Alex Freeland that scored Max Muncy
• The Dodgers added a run in the top of the 6th as Ohtani hammered a solo bomb to dead center
• Four batters later, Alan Pages doubled scoring Tucker and Hernandez
• Justin Wrobleski pitching line: 5IP 2H 1R (earned) 4BB 2K 78 pitches (42 for strikes)
• The Dodgers added a run in the top of the 7th as Rushing whacked a solo blast to right-center
• Four batters later, Freeman doubled scoring Heyseong Kim
• A batter later Hernandez singled home Tucker and Freeman
• The Dodgers added a run in the top of the 8th as Rushing hammered a solo bomb to right-center
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 9th on a ground out hit by Andres Gimenez that scored Daulton Varsho
• Final score: Dodgers 14 Blue Jays 2

My Take:-

• Max Scherzer battled through 2 innings, giving up a pair of runs on 2 hits while walking 1 and striking out 2. His velocity was down and he gave up a 2-run HR to ex-Blue Jay Teoscar Hernandez, who knows the Rogers Centre well. Scherzer was forced to leave with forearm tightness, a classic precursor to UCL surgery. Apparently the team was so desperate for a starter that they let him pitch with the injury. A bit of deja vu, since Scherzer also didn't last long in his regular season debut last year. It's time to review the medical staff for letting players play hurt.
• The bullpen, running on fumes, gave up 12 runs on 15 hits while walking 4 and striking out 6 over the last 7 innings. To be fair, lower leverage relievers were used for the most part once the game was out of hand. The Blue Jays must have had a sense that Scherzer might not be able to go long since they recalled long reliever Josh Fleming, who gave the Blue Jays 3 innings. Tyler Heineman was the only reliever to retire every batter he faced.
• The offense, even at its peak, probably wouldn't have overcome this deficit, but scoring twice won't be enough to defeat a deep Dodgers roster, who showed why they are 2-time defending champs tonight
• The Blue Jays were 1-7 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 5-game losing streak and avoid their 3rd series loss of the season. Ace Kevin Gausman starts against Dodgers righty Yoshinobu Yamaoto, the MVP of last year's world series, who was basically unhittable in that series.

Game #10 Los Angeles Dodgers (7-2) v. Toronto Blue Jays (4-5)

 

Game #9- Toronto Blue Jays (4-5) @ Chicago White Sox (4-5) - game recap

 

After another loss thanks to Brendon Little blowing another lead, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the 2-game skid and avoid being swept for the first time this season. Little and righty Lazaro Estrada were optioned to AAA-ball. Lefty Joe Mantiply and righty Austin Voth were recalled from AAA-ball. Righty Cody Ponce and outfielder Anthony Santander were transferred to the 60-day IL. Eric Lauer got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Nathan Lukes was in LF and Addison Barger was in RF. Could the Blue Jays snap the 3-game skid and avoid being swept for the first time this season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The White Sox opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Miguel Vargas tripled scoring Chase Miedroth 
• The White Sox added a run in the bottom of the 3rd as Lenyn Sosa doubled scoring Munetaka Murakami
• Eric Lauer pitching line: 2IP 3H 2R (both earned) 3BB 0K 49 pitches (26 for strikes)
• The White Sox added a run in the bottom of the 4th as Austin Hays singled scoring Luisangel Acuna
• Addison Barger left the game prior to the bottom of the 6th after injuring both ankles running the bases
• Davis Martin pitching line: 6IP 4H 0R 2BB 6K 85 pitches (57 for strikes)
• Chris Murphy pitched a scoreless 9th for his 1st save of the season
• Final score: White Sox 3 Blue Jays 0

My Take:

• Eric Lauer battled through 2 innings, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits while walking 3 and striking out none. A valiant effort despite being very ill to the point where he was struggling to keep smoothies down. The pressure is now on Max Scherzer to giving the Blue Jays some length as they begin an early season test against the defending World Series champs LA Dodgers. Could Lauer be asked to throw from the bullpen on Wednesday?
• The bullpen gave up a run on 5 hits while walking 1 and striking out 6 over the last 6 innings. Joe Mantiply retired every batter he faced. If he keeps pitching like that, he'll earn some opportunity in higher leverage situatiions.
• The offense contnues to sputter early on. George Springer (.158 average) is hitting himself out of the leadoff spot. Daulton Varsho, in a contract year, hitting .172. The Blue Jays batters aren't showing the patience at the plate they had last year or hitting the good pitches they were  in 2025. 
• And the injury bug continues to strike early and often. This time, Addison Barger hurt both ankles running the bases. Here's hoping the flight back doesn't cause any swelling.
• The Blue Jays were 0-6 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, an early season test in a rematch of last year's world series. The Dodger won the regular season series, outscoring the Blue Jays 18-7. Max Scherzer starts against Dodgers lefty Justin Wrobleski

Game #9 Toronto Blue Jays (4-4) @ Chicago White Sox (3-5)

 

Game #8 Toronto Blue Jays (4-3) @ Chicago White Sox (2-5)