Game #143 - Toronto Blue Jays (72-71) @ Kansas City Royals (63-80) - game recap

Kazuma Okamoto drove in a pair of runs as the Blue Jays hung on to edge the Royals 4-3

 

After a huge win over the Royals thanks to some nice work from the bullpen after Jameson Taillon, who was put right back on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation, left the game after 2 innings, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 4 games and notch their 21st series win of the season. Ricky Tiedemann was recalled from AAA-ball. Max Scherzer got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Andres Gimenez was at SS and Ernie Clement got the start at 2B. Could theBlue Jays extend the win streak to 4 games and notch their 21st series win of the season? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Alejandro Kirk singled scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Royals 3B Josh Rojas was charged with a throwing error on the play.
• A batter later, Nathan Lukes singled home Kirk 
• The Royals got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Jac Caglianone singled scoring Carter Jensen
• A batter later, Salvador Perez singled scoring Bobby Witt Jr.
• The Blue Jays retook the lead in the top of the 3rd as Kazuma Okamoto doubled scoring Lukes. Okamoto was thrown out at 3B trying to stretch the double into a triple
• The Royals tied it in the bottom of the 4th as John Rave whacked a solo blast to right
• Seth Lugo pitching line: 5IP 8H 3R (all earned 2BB 4K 95 pitches (61 for strikes)
• Max Scherzer pitching line: 5.2IP 5H 3R (all earned) 1BB 2K 76 pitches (50 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays retook the lead in the top of the 7th as Okamoto singled scoring George Springer
• Louis Varland threw a perfect 9th for his 33rd save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 4 Royals 3

My Take:

• Max Scherzer battled through 5.2 innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits while walking 1 and striking out 2. The opening inning snowballed on Scherzer after he hit the first batter he faced on his first pitch of the game and the Royals erased the 2-run lead the offense gave him before he took to the mound. He did settle down after that and retired 15 of the last 17 batters he faced. At this point, I'd put Scherzer in the plsyoff rotation.
• The bullpen held the Royals to 2 hits and a walk whike striking out 3 over the last 3.1 innings. Mason Fluharty was credited with the win. Paul Sewald and Louis Varland both retired every batter e faced. Varland coulds be a dark horse in the Cy Young voting. He's had a phenomenol season so far and has been virtually lights out in save opportunities.
• For the second day in a row, the offense jumpred all over the starting pitcher. Kazuma Okamoto (2RBI) and Nathan Lukes (RBI, run scored) carried the day 
• Every Blue Jays starter reached base at least once and all but George Springer had a hit
• The Blue Jays were unsuccessful on both ABS challenges and the Royals were unsucceful on their lone ABS challenge
• The Blue Jays were 2-11 with runners in scoring position
• Anotheer huge accomplishment: getting above .500 for the first time since April 3rd.
• In terms of the wild card race, with the win, the Blue Jays moved into possession of the 3rd WC spot thanks to the Guardians also losing and the Blue Jays holding the tiebreaker over the Guardians after winning the season series against them. The Rangers (lost today)  are 2 games back of the 3rd WC spot. The Orioles (lost today) are 3 games back of the 3rd WC spot. The Twins (won today) are 3.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot. The Mariners are 5.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot for the moment, but are losing to the A's and will drop a half game if the score remains the same or gain a half game if they come back and win. 
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the winning streak to 5 games, complete their second series sweep of the season and notch their 11th season series win of the season. It will be an all-too familiar bullpwn game with Spencer Arrighetti getting the start. The Royals will counter with righty Randy Dobnak.

Game #143 Toronto Blue Jays (71-71) @ Kansas City Royals (63-79)

 

Game #142 - Toronto Blue Jays (71-71) @ Kansas City Royals (63-79) - game recap

 

Alejandro Kirk drove in a pair of runs and scored a run in a 9-2 victory over the Royals

After a huge win yesterday over the Guardians thanks to a 4-run 5th inning rally to secure the tiebreaker over the Guardians, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 3 games as they continued the road trip in Kansas City. The Royals won the series in Toronto a week ago, outscoring the Blue Jays 18-8. Jameson Taillon was activated off the 15-day IL (and got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate) and Ricky Tiedemann was optioned to AAA-ball. Myles Straw was in LF. Kazuma Okamoto was back in the lineup at the hot corner after the complete day off yesterday, Ernie Clement was at SS and Charles McAdoo was at 2B. 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 top of the 1st as Alejandro Kirk single scoring Brett Bateman
• A batter later, Kazuma Okamoto singled scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr,
• Two batters later, Ernie Clement doubled scoring Kirk and Charles McAdoo
• The Royals  got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Bobby Witt Jr. whacked a solo blast to left
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 2nd as Kirk doubled scoring Myles Staw
• Jameson Taillon pitching line: 2IP 2H 1R (earned) 0BB 29 pitches (18 for strikes)
• Daniel Lynch IV pitching line: 5IP 7H 5R (all earned) 1BB 0K 70 pitches (46 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 6th on a sac bunt by Straw that scored Clement
• Two batters later, George Springer doubled scoring Nathan Lukes and Bateman
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 9th as Sean Keys hammered a solo bomb to right
• The Royals got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Vinnie Pasquantino belted a solo jack to right
• Final score: Blue Jays  9 Royals 2

My Take:

• Unforttunate start for Jameson Taillon who looks like he's headed right back on the IL after reinjuring his right elbow 29 pitches into his start tonight, His season is all but over, and maybe should have been over before tonight, or perhaps he should have done one more rehab game before being activated. It's insane that a whole roster (and then some) has been on the IL. Medical team needs to be reviewed in the off-season
• The bullpwn gave up a run on 4 hits while walking 2 and striking out 4 ov.r the last 7 innings. None of the relievers retired every batter they faced.
• Offensively, the Blue Jays ad a 4-run rally in the 1st and a 3-run rally in the 2nd. George Springer (2 RBI) Ernie Clement (2RBI, run scored), Alejandro Kirk (2RBI, run scored) snd Brett Batemsn (2 runs scored) led the way. Nice to see a team effort offensively.
• Both teams were a perfect 2-2 on ABS challenges
• The Blue Jays were 6-13 with runners in scoring position
• In terms of the WC race, the Blue Jays are a game back of the Guardans, who swept the double header vs. the Tigers today, for the 3rd WC spot. The Rangers (lost today) are 1.5 gsmes back of the 3rd WC spot. The Orioles (lost today) are 2 games back of the 3rd WC spot. The Mariners, who are in s 5-5 tie with the A's in their game tonight, are 5.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot, and will gain a half game if they win and lose a hsalf game if they lose. Finally, the Twins (lost tonight) are 4.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot.
• Up next, the Blue Jaus try to extend the win streak to 4 games and notch their 22nd series win of the season. Max Scherzer starts against Royals righty Seth Lugo

Game #142 Toronto Blue Jays (70-71) @ Kansas City Royals (63-78)

 

Game #141 - Toronto Blue Jays (70-71) @ Cleveland Guardians (70-70) - game recap

 

After a huge shutout win yesterday thanks to a 5RBI effort from Vlad and 6 shutout innings from Dylan Cease, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 2 games, notch their 21st series win of the season and 9th seaon series win of the season and nab the tiebreaker over Cleveland by winning the season series. Jose Soriano got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Jesus Sanchez was in LF. Josh Smith was at the hot corner and Sean Keys served as DH. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 2 games, notch their 21st series win of the season and 9th seaon series win of the season and nab the tiebreaker over Cleveland by winning the season series? Here is today's game recap. 

Game Highlights:

• The Guardians opened the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd as Angel Genao singled scoring Jo Adell 
• The Blue Jays tied it in the top of the 4th as Sean Keys singled scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• The Blue jays took the lead in the top of the 5th as Nathan Lukes doubled scoring Brandon Valenzuela and Ernie Clement
• A batter later, Brett Bateman scored on a sac fly by Guerrero Jr.
• A batter after that, Jesus Sanchez singled scoring Lukes
• Tanner Bibee pitching line: 4IP 4H 5R (all earned) 5BB 4K 89 pitched (49 for strikes)
• The Guardians got a pair back in the bottom half of the inning as Austin Hedges singled scoring Adell and Genao
• Jose Soriano pitching line: 4.2IP 6H 3R (all earned) 3BB 2K 98 pitches (65 for strikes)
• The Blue jays added a run in the top of i the 9th as Clement singled scoring Josh Smith
• Louis Varland threw a scoreless 9th for his 32nd save of the season. 
• Final score: Blue Jays 6 Guardians 3

My Take:

• Jose Soriano battled through 4.2 innings, giving up 3 runs on 6 hours while walking 3 and striking out 2. Not the most efficient start, but he limited the damage on the scoreboard for the most pari. Soriano has emerged as a solid trade deadline pickup by the Blue Jays and will be a great addition to a postseason rotation .
• The bullpen threw 4.1 scoreless innings, giving up 2 hits, walking 2 and striking out 4. Spencer Miles, who retired every batter he faced, was credited with the win. Louis Varland, who has a shot at becoming the second Blue Jays pitcher with at least 40 saves (there aren't enough games remaining for Varland to challenge Duane Ward&, who notched 45 saves in 1993), locked down his 32 save of the season. He should get another 5-8 chances at saves given the number of games left and strength of the remaining schedule. You figure the team will make sure he is available in at least 2 games in the important series left in the season: vs the Tigers, vs.  The Rangers, vs the Orioles x2..
• Offensively, a 4-run rally in the 5th carried the day. Nathan Lukes (2RBI, run scored), Ernie Clement (RBI, run scored). It feels like the offense has rediscovered the attitude that they are never out of games.  
• Key stat of the day: the Blue Jays notched their 32nd comeback win of the season today.  Last year, the Blue Jays had 49 comeback win. The 2 world series teams had 40 and 44 comeback wins. The 1987 team, who infamously misses out on the playoffs on the very last day off the season, has the record of 50 comeback wins in a season. 
• The Blue jays were 5-1 on ABS challenges. The Guardians did not attempt an ABS challenge. 
• The Blue jays were 5-14 with runners in scoring position
• In terms of the wild card race, this win over the Guardians was huge for more than one reason. First, the Blue Jays are just a half game behind the Guardians for the 3rd WC spot.  Second, and more importantly, the Blue Jays secured the tiebreaker with the season series win, meaning if the Guardians and Blue Jays finish the season with the same record, the Blue Jays would make the playoffs. For the moment, the Rangers and Orioles are a game back but both could be tied with the Blue Jays and also be a half game back of the Guardians for the 3rd WC spot. The Rangers have the tie breaker over the Blue jays in the event the two teams are tied for the 3rd WC spot after sweeping the Blue Jays in Toronto at the end of June.  The idle Twins are 3 games back of the Guardians for the 3rd WC spot and the Mariners, who take on the A's later tonight, are 4 games back of the 3rd WC spot, but would gain a half game with a win. 
• Up next, the Blue Jays continue the road trip in Kansas City, where they will try to exact some revenge on a Royals team that took the series in Toronto a week ago, outscoring the Blue Jays 18-8. Jameson Taillon is expected to come off the 15-day IL to start for the Blue Jays. The Royals will counter with lefty Daniel Lynch IV.