#46 - Toronto Blue Jays (18-27) at Chicago White Sox (21-23)

Sunday, May 19, 2019 | 2:07 pm ET

Guaranteed Rate Field | Chicago, IL

Trent Thornton (1-4, 4.81, 1.37) vs. Reynaldo Lopez (3-4, 5.58, 1.56)

PREAMBLE:

The White Sox were lucky to have the rain wipe out the rest of the game before the juggernaut Blue Jays offence could come from behind.  Yeah right.  In today's series finale, the Blue Jays look to even the four-game series at two games each, provided that some possible rain doesn't throw a monkey wrench into things.

Trent Thornton takes the ball for today's finale with all the weight off his back after securing his first major-league win last Tuesday against the Giants.  Pity he won't be able to hit for himself in this game, too.  He'll face off against Reynaldo Lopez of the White Sox.

Game #45 Toronto Blue Jays (18-27) @ Chicago White Sox (21-23) - game recap

Rowdy Tellez got on base in both his plate appearances and scored the Blue Jays only run in a rain-shortened 4-1 loss to the White Sox

Today was supposed to be a bullpen day, but Aaron Sanchez left his start early last night with more blister issues. The Blue Jays recalled lefty Ryan Feierabend, who has reinvented himself as a knuckleballer. Veteran Luke Maile got the start behind the plate with the unpredictability that comes with the knuckleball. Richard Urena got the start at second base, giving Eric Sogard the day off. Justin Smoak got a half day off, serving as the DH, with Rowdy Tellez at first base. Could the Blue Jays make it two wins in a row? Here is today's game recap.

#45 - Toronto Blue Jays (18-26) at Chicago White Sox (20-23)

Saturday, May 18, 2019 | 2:07 pm ET

Guaranteed Rate Field | Chicago, IL

Ryan Feierabend (first appearance of season) vs. Lucas Giolito (4-1, 3.55, 1.18)

PREAMBLE: 

Sparked by a post from VladFraud, the Blue Jays' offence broke out with ten runs on fifteen hits, including a Vlad HR, as they thumped the White Sox in the second game of a four-game set.  The Blue Jays look to maintain this momentum in this afternoon's tilt.

Ryan Feierabend makes his first appearance in the majors since 2014 when he appeared in six games, and prior to that, he hadn't played in the bigs since 2008.  At age 33, he's reinvented himself as a left-handed knuckleballer, so it'll be interesting to see how he fares in today's game.  Lucas Giolito is his mound counterpart today.

Game #44 Toronto Blue Jays (18-26) @ Chicago White Sox (20-23) - game recap

Billy McKinney was 4-5 with a run scored and an RBI as the Blue Jays routed the White Sox 10-2

After a heartbreaking late loss to the White Sox last night, the Blue Jays were looking to get bck on track against Ivan Nova. Aaron Sanchez was on the mound, five days after striking out a season-high 11 batters. Luke Maile was a late scratch, reason not given. Socrates Brito cleared waivers and was reporting to Buffalo. Could the Blue Jays even the weekend series and avoid losing the season series? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Justin Smoak smoked a solo bomb to right
• The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the top of the 2nd as Danny Jansen smacked  2-run blast to dead center also scoring Brandon Drury
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 3rd as Freddy Galvis singled home Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• A batter later, Justin Smoak scored on a sac fly by Drury
• A batter later, Billy McKinney doubled scoring Randal Grichuk and Galvis
• The White Sox got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Tim Anderson scored on a fielder's choice hit by Leury Garcia
• A batter later Yoan Moncada singled home Yolmer Sanchez
• The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the top of the 4th as Vladimir Guerrero smashed a 2-run blast to dead center that barely cleared the wall; also scoring was Eric Sogard
• Ivan Nova pitching line: 3IP 8H 9R (8 earned) 4BB 1K 88 pitches (52 for strikes)
• Aaron Sanchez pitching line: 3IP 3H 2R (both earned) 2BB 4K 54 pitches (31 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 5th as Sogard doubled scoring McKinney
• Final score: Blue Jays 10 White Sox 2

My Take:

• Here we go again. Aaron Sachez left the game after throwing 54 pitches with 9 outs recorded. Yet again, he is plagued by blister problems. He left the game early back on April 21st with a cracked fingernail. Sanchez cruised through the first two innings with 6 straight outs, 4 strikeouts. In the third inning, he gave up two runs on three his. The 4th inning, it was obvious something was wrong when Sanchez hit James McCann with a pitch and then walked the next batter, missing badly on all four balls. Immediately after, manager Charlie Montoyo and trainer Nikki Huffman came out of the dugout and subsequently removed Sanchez from the game. If Sanchez misses significant time, it will leave the Blue Jays with three legit starters and almost 2 weeks before the next off-day.
• The bats came alive in a big way, lighting up White Sox starter Ivan Nova to the tune of 9 runs (8 earned) on 8 hits and 4 walks.Every Blue Jays starter had at least one hit and Billy McKinney was 4-5. Justin Smoak also got on base 4 times, drawing three walks.
• Quirky stat of the day: The Blue Jays had a numeric palindrome with their runs/inning (1-2-4-2-1)
• The bullpen did a really good job tonight, allowing just three hits and a walk over the final 6 innings
• Up, next, the Blue Jays have a bullpen day with Clay Buchholz on the shelf for the foreseeable future. Daniel Hudson started the last bullpen day. The White Sox will counter with righty Lucas Giolito, who threw 7 4 hit innings against the Blue Jays in his last start.

#44 - Toronto Blue Jays (17-26) at Chicago White Sox (20-22)

Friday, May 17, 2019 | 8:10 pm ET

Guaranteed Rate Field | Chicago, IL

Aaron Sanchez (3-4, 3.75, 1.50) vs. Ivan Nova (2-3, 6.29, 1.65)

PREAMBLE:

The Blue Jays look to bounce back after accumulating only two hits in a game that got away from them in the eighth inning.  This is the second game of a four-game series against the White Sox.

Aaron Sanchez takes the ball for the Jays as he looks to turn in a better performance than his most recent outing, also against the White Sox, last week.  Ivan Nova faces the Jays again after turning in his best performance of the young season (but, of course).