Game #144 - Toronto Blue Jays (72-72) @ Kansas City Royals (64-80) - game recap

 

Josh Smith hit a solo HR in a 6-1 loss to the Royals 

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After a huge win thanks to a clutch base hit off the bat of Kazuma Okamoto, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 4 games, complete their second series sweep of the season and notch their 21st season series win of the season. Spencer Arrighetti got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Jesus Sanchez was in LF. Vlad got the half day off as DH with Sean Keys at 1B. Josh Smith got the start at 2B.. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 4 games, complete their second series sweep of the season and notch their 21st season series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Royals opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Vinnie Pasquantino belted a 3-run jack to right-center; slso scoring John Rave and Bobby Witt Jr.
• The Royals added a pair of runs in the top of the 3rd as Salvador Perez whacked a 2-run blast to left-center; also scoring Witt Jr.
• The Royals added a run in the top of the 5th as Nick Loftin singled scoring Pasquantino
• Spencer Arrighetti pitching line: 4.2IP 6H 6R (all earned) 3BB 3K 91 pitches (56 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 6th as Josh Smith smacked a solo blast to right
• Randy Dobnak pitching line: 6IP 4H 1R (earned) 0BB 3K 83 pitches (53 for strikes)
• Final score: Royals 6 Blue Jays 1

My Take:-

• Spencer Arrighetti battled through 4.2 innings, giving up 6 runs on 6 hits while walking 3 and striking out 3. He was taken deep 3 times. At least he was able to pitch into the 5th inning to somewhat save the bullpen. No chance he's a part of any postseason rotation or even a bullpen arm.
• The bullpen threw 3.1 scoreless innings, givng up a hit, walking 4 and striking out 5. Nice to see Ricky Tiedemann finally making it to the big leagues after fighting his body to stay healthy for several seasons. He's got a few kinks to work out, but he is showing he can get big-league hitters out. He just needs to work on his command a bit.
• Offensively, Josh Smith broke the shutout bid by going deep to right. Bats were back to being ice cold today
• The Blue Jays were 3-1 on ABS challenges and the Royals were 1-1 on ABS challenges.
• The Blue Jays were 0-4 with runners in scoring position.
• In terms of the wild card race, the Guardians are back to being in sole possession of the 3rd WC spot (with the Blue Jays a game back) after their walk-off win today. The Rangers, who are leading their game against the Rays, are 2.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot and will gain a half game if they hold on and win and drop a half game if they lose. The Orioles (lost today) are 4 games back of the 3rd WC spot. The Twins (play the White Sox later today) are also 4 games back of the 3rd WC spot for the moment, but will gain a  half game with a win and drop a half game if they lose. The Mariners (leading their game) are 6.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot for the moment and will gain a half game if they hold on and win and drop a half game if they lose.
• Up next, the Blue Jays continue the road trip against the Athletics. The Blue Jay swept the Athletics in Toronto to open the 2026 series, outscoring the A's 16-11. Ace Dylan Cease starts against A's lefty Jacob Lopez.

Game #144 Toronto Blue Jays (72-71) @ Kansas City Royals (63-80)

 

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