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.

Game #141 Toronto Blue Jays (69-71) @ Cleveland Guardians (70-69)

 

Game #140 - Toronto Blue Jays (69-71) @ Cleveland Guardians (70-69) - game recap

Vladimir Guerrero had 5 RBI, including a 3-run HR and finished a triple shy pf the cycle in an 11-0 shutout win over the Guardians

After dropping yesterday's opening game against the Guardians thanks to nothing from the offense and the bullpen not throwing a shutout, the Blue Jays were looking to even the series and avoid their 20th series loss of the season. Ace Dylan Cease got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate.  The rest of the lineup was the same as last night. Could the Blue Jays even the series and avoid their 20th series loss of the season?  Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Vladimir Guerrero Jr.  doubled scoring Brett Bateman
• The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the top of the 2nd on a fielder's choice hit by George Springer that scored Andres Gimenez and Myles Straw. Guardians SS Angel Genao was charged with a throwing error on the play
• A batter later, Guerrero Jr. hammered a 3-run bomb to left; also scoring Bateman and Springer
• The Blue jays added a run in the top of the 3rd as Straw doubled scoring Ernie Clement 
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 6th as Springer doubled scoring Straw
• A batter later, Guerrero Jr. singled scoring Bateman
• Joey Cantillo pitching line: 5.1IP 9H 9R (4 earned) 2BB 6K 102 pitches (66 for strikes)
• Dylan Cease pitching line: 6IP 4H 0R 0BB 4K 83 pitches (56 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 8th as Josh Smith belted a solo jack to right-center 
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 9th as Nathan Lukes singled scoring Sean Keys
• Final score: Blue Jays 11 Guardians 0 

My Take:

• Dylan Cease threw 6 shutout innings, scattering 4 hits, walking none and striking out 4. Maybe a bit of a surprise they pulled him with so few pitches thrown, especially a day after the bullpen day.i would have let Cease go one more inning - he still likely would have been under a hundred pitches and there would be more flexibility the remainder of the bullpen on terms of availability in the bullpen. 
• The bullpen threw 3 scoreless inningsb, giving up 2 hits, walking none and striking out five. Brendon Little and Paul Sewald retired every batter they faced. The best part about the score: Louis Varland, Mason Fluharty and Tyler Rogers will be fully rested for the big game tomorrow.
• The offense, led by Vlad (5RBI, including a 3-run HR and finished a triple shy of the cycle), Myles Straw (2 runs scored, RBI), George Springer (run scored RBI) and Josh Smith (solo HR). They even got to face a position player pitching in the 9th. Big night for Vlad, hopefully it's the start of a hot streak after a horrible season for a  player getting paid top dollar.
• The Guardians were 2-1 on ABS challenges and Alejandro Kirk successfully overturned the Blue Jays only ABS challenge
• The Blue Jays were 7-15 with runners in scoring position
• In terms of the wild card race, the Blue Jays are 1.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot. The Rangers and Orioles, who both lost today, are also 1.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot. The Twins (curreently tied in their game tonight) are 3 games back of the  3rd WC spot, but will be 2.5 games back if they win and 3.5 games back if they lose. Finally, the Mariners (won today) are 4.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot. 
• Up next: pretty simple, extend the win streak to 2 games, notch their 21st series win and 11th season series win, get within a half game of the Gurdiians for the 3rd WC spot and get that all important tiebreaker for winning the season series. Lose and the Guardians likely hold the tiebreaker for havng the better interdivision record. Jose Soriano starts against Guardians righty Tanner Bibee

Game #140 Toronto Blue Jays (68-71) @ Cleveland Guardians (70-68)

- Game #139 - Toronto Blue Jays (68-71) @ Cleveland Guardians (70-68) - game recap

 

Kazuma Okamoto scored the Blue Jays only run with some heads-up base runnings in a 6-1 come-from-behind loss to the Guardians

After an off-day/travel day yesterday, the Blue Jays hit the road for the second last time this season as they landed in Cleveland with a massive opportunity to snag the 3rd WC spot. The Blue Jays took the series in Toronto back at the end of April, outscoring the Guardians 15-13. Ricky Tiedemann and Sean Keys were recalled from AAA-ball as the September call-ups with the annual September roster expansion. Lefty Joe Mantiply was reinstated from the 60-day IL and utility man Josh Smith was reinstated from the 10-day IL. Daz Cameron was DFA'd. Simeon Woods Richardson cleared waivers and eleted free agency. Spencer Miles got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Ernie Clement was back in the lineup at 2B after the full day off Sunday.  Could the Blue Jays extend the winning streak to 4 games? Here is tonight's game recap

Game Highlights:

• Spencer Miles pitching line: 1IP 1H 0R 0BB 0K 16 pitches (12 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 5th on a wild pitch by ¹Gavin Williams that scored Kazuma Okamoto 
• The Guardians took the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Patrick Bailey hammered a 2-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Angel Martinez 
• The Guardians added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 7th as Angel Genoa hammered a 2-run bomb to left; also scoring Martinez
• Gavin Williams pitching line: 7IP 2H 1R (unearned) 1BB 13K 97 pitches (64 for strikes)
• The Guardians added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 8th as Martinez belted a 2-run jack to right-center; also scoring Petey Halpin 
• Final score: Guardians 6 Blue Jays 1

My Take:

• Stop me if you heard this one before: the Blue Jays had a bullpen game again today with Spencer Miles opening the game on the bump. It seems like every turn through the rotation has needed at least one bullpen game due to injury and performance (mostly injury). Miles has been a bulk pitcher and an opener in these scenarios and today, he got the ball first, giving up a hit in the 1 inning of work. The FO needs to address this in the  off-season and the Blue Jays should have a minimum of 6-7 pitchers built up to handle a starter's role.
• The rest of the bullpen gave up 6 runs on7 hits while walking 3 and striking out 3 over the last 7 innings. Spencer Arrighetti, Joe Mantiply and Michael Lorenzen all gave up 2-run HRs. The first one was back-breaking and demoralizing since the Blue Jays manufactured their only run in the top half of the 5th inning 
• Speaking of the offense, they were stymied by the Guardians pitching all night. They manufactured their only run only because Guardians catcher Patrick Bailey made a horrible decision to try and gun down Kazuma Okamoto on a pitch that was ball 4 and then Bailey was unable to corrall a nasty splitter for a wild pitch (and unearned run). Nobody reached base more than once
• Both catchers were 0-1 on ABS challenges
• The Blue Jays were 0-3 with runners in scoring position
• In terms of the WC race, the Blue Jays fell to 2.5 games back of the Guardians for the 3rd WC spot. The Orioles (losing in their game vs. the Rockies) are 1 game back of the 3rd WC spot for the moment, but will be 1.5 games back if the score holds and will be a half game back of the 3rd WC spot if they win. The Texas Rangers (ahead in their game vs. the A's) are 2 games back of the 3rd WC spot for the moment, but will be 1.5 games back if the score holds and will be 2.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot if they lose.  The Twins (won today) are 3.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot and the Mariners ((won today) are 5.5 games back of the 3rd WC. I am eliminating the Tigers, who are 7.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot, from the WC race updates because they have to much ground to make up and too many teams to overtake.
• Up next, The Blue Jays try to even the series and avoid their 20th series loss of the season/ Ace Dylan Cease starts against Guardians lefty Joey Cantillo